Before you call me refugee
I have a name, I have identity
Before war, before natural disasters, before conflict rising
I had citizenship—belonged to a people who looked like me, loved me, wanted me
Before you built your walls to keep me out
I lived in a house of walls that kept me in, kept me protected, kept me safe
Before your “go back to where you came from” trope
I belonged to a land that birthed me, fed me, wanted me
Before you raped my body as a weapon of your war
I gave myself freely to love, to receive love, to be loved
Before you snatched my children, ripped them from my arms, displaced them
I cuddled them, consoled them, pampered them
Before you call me refugee
I have a name, I have an identity, I am a human being
2022 ©DeeMin All rights reserved
World Refugee Day 2022
This year, the theme for World Refugee Day is ‘Whoever, Whatever, Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety.’ It means that every refugee should be welcomed and treated with dignity regardless of their birthplace, origin, race or religion.
Five facts about refugees around the world:
- 83 percent of refugees have taken shelter in developing countries. Over 40 percent of global refugees are children.
- Over two-thirds of the total number of the world’s refugees have fled from just five countries- Syria, Venezuela, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
- About 72 percent of refugees relocate to neighbouring countries. As per statistics by the United Nations, Turkey hosts the maximum number, with 3.6 million refugees while Columbia is in the second position with 1.8 million refugees.
- More than 6 million refugees live in camps which offer immediate protection and assistance to people who were forced to flee their homes due to persecution, war or violence. One of the world’s largest refugee camp is at Dadaab in Kenya where more than 329,000 people are housed.
Thank you for journeying along.
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In creative solidarity, Dee
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