Syrian refugee Ahmad al-Abboud: “God bless Kansas City”
Don’t be afraid.
That, in essence, was the message Monday from a Syrian dad to Americans as he went before cameras to thank the United States for welcoming him and his refugee family to their new country.
The father of five said that, as the head of the first Syrian family to be resettled in the U.S. from Jordan as part of the latest “surge operation,” people will be looking at him to be a role model.
Asked if he was up to the challenge, he replied: “Definitely.”
Read more about his story here: http://on.msnbc.com/1XrQQZ9
“My name is Ziad. I grew up in a small village in Syria. If you were here in Zaatari refugee camp with me, I would welcome you into my home. I keep busy in Zaatari by working as a guard at WFP food distribution points, and by helping to fix things around the camp. My life now is very different to my life before the conflict started. Here in the refugee camp, you have to fend for yourself.
“All my hopes today are to go back to my country. I want my life back in Syria.” – Ziad
#IamSyrian and this is my story: http://panorama.wfp.org/iamsyrian
“When I play football, I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything at all.” The inspirational Saja, 12, who lost her leg and four of her best friends to the war in Syria.
“I am 13 years old from Aleppo. I am a refugee in Lebanon and I go out every day at sunrise to sift through the garbage to pick metals and empty tins to sell.
“Sometimes I think I might never be able to go back to school. It has been four years since I left my school in Syria and I can’t remember how to read and write. All I want is to go back to my country. I want my life back.“ – Nasser
#IAmSyrian and this is my story: http://panorama.wfp.org/iamsyrian
“Don’t lose hope. Life is like walking around a block. There is always a turning point. You may not be able to see it now, but you will one day turn the next corner and things will get better. The three first words of the UN charter are ‘We the Peoples.’ You are at the center of all the work that we do. It is about your lives, your opportunities and your future.”
These are the words refugees at the Nizip refugee camp outside Gaziantep in Turkey heard from UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson this weekend.
“There is no military solution to the Syrian conflict. The UN’s first priority is therefore to find a political solution to end this terrible nightmare,” he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets with Syrian refugees in Ottawa, Canada.
“You’ve suffered enough. The United Nations is working day and night to help you,” he told the newly-arrived families.
Meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier in the day, the Secretary-General commended Canada’s compassionate approach to migrants and refugees.
“They have lost their homes and their family members. They deserve opportunity, human rights protection and peace. Canada is helping to give them hope”.
Photo: UN Spokesperson
Many of the new arrivals have been uprooted again and again because the front lines are moving, and some are on the run because of constant air raids.
Syrian refugee girls in Jordan dress up for the future they want for themselves. See more.
Credit: Meredith Hutchison - check out when she did this project in the Democratic Republic of Congo
npr:
One woman, Zoi Livaditou is going out everyday off the coast of Lesbos trying to save the lives of thousands of refugees who are flooding into her island.
“She updated me on what was happening: Dozens of people were stuck inside the trawler and were probably dead.”
“I cannot cry anymore,” she said. “I am just becoming crazy.”
Really thoughtful + human reporting from the intense situation in Greece. -Ariel
