CURIOUS – Let’s Stand with Refugees

“ A simple act of kindness can make a tremendous impact on a person’s life”

Refugees are those who has been forced to flee his or her country because of war, violence and persecution. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees’ evacuation from their countries. Can you can imagine growing up in the refugee’s situation? It may increase the risk of sexual and gender based violence, forced recruitment, exploitation and detention and also in additional for some cases, they can become targets of xenophobia, harassment and discrimination.

According to UNHCR Global Trend Report (2018), Around 70.8 million people worldwide are currently displaced with 25.9 million of these crossing international boundaries in search of protection. Surrounded by many countries hosting large numbers of asylum-seekers and refugees, such as Malaysia, Thailand and Australia, Indonesia is impacted regularly by mixed population movements. Indonesia hosts some :13,840 refugees from some 49 different countries as of December 2017, with roughly half originating from Afghanistan.

These refugees are the populations at risk of falling sick in transition or whilst staying in receiving countries due to poor living conditions or adjustments in their lifestyle. Among forcibly displaced populations in developing countries, the top five killers of refugee children under the age of five are malaria, malnutrition, measles, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections. In more developed and urban settings, public health priorities among adults shift toward cardiovascular, chronic diseases and cancers.

Here’s how we can make difference in the lives of refugees as youth. First, proper mental health care empowers them to cope with the challenges of displacement, earn a living, take care of their families and contribute to their communities. We can protect they from abuse and exploitation. Then, Break down the stigma by educating peers about refugees. Do Something and don’t ignore them. Through education, we can teach them how to adapt to the new environment, strangers, their health – nutrition, and psychosocial support. Break down the stigma by educating peers about refugees.

CURIOUS by

Yovie Suryani

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