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The farmers market in Galway, where my husband and I stopped regularly, became a place where our identity was open for discussion. People usually noticed that we were foreigners, even if we didnt talk much. One time, Housam and I were walking holding hands when we passed by a group of young men hanging out. They smiled at us and one of them said, You are the most beautiful non-Irish couple Ive seen around.

The follow-up questions that came after statements like this, exposing my nationality, were unique. At first, I loved satisfying peoples curiosity: better they hear it from me than from the media. But sometimes it was overwhelming, and I didnt want to talk about home while waiting for the bus or having a haircut. Are you going back? Are you Muslims? You dont look Syrian. What do you think of al-Assad? How do you think it will end?

Housam was more patient than me. He explained politics and religion and extremism even to those who didnt want to listen. Once, we were blamed for forcing the Irish to travel overseas looking for jobs. Ironically, it came from someone who was not Irish. In general, the Irish were warm and loving. Having their own share of wars and troubles made them more empathetic to the Syrians around them. And for that I was always grateful.

In September 2015, during one of our strolls in the city, we noticed a brown shipping container standing in the middle of a shopping street. Eight volunteers had decided to lock themselves inside the container for 24 hours with just two bottles of water each, a portable toilet and no food. The art installation, designed by the Giddy Biddy Collective, aimed to raise awareness of the migrant crisis and the struggles endured by migrants to reach a safe haven. I walked away to hide my tears and my identity. I checked Twitter later to read more and decided to leave a virtual thank-you note for telling my peoples story.

Suad Aldarra and her husband, Housam Ziad. Photograph: Aidan Crawley

Luckily, one of the volunteers replied, and thats how I met Cait Noone, a dean at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and one of the supporters of the project, who invited me to come back and say hi. Caits smile can be spotted from the end of the world and would make you walk towards her like an insect following the light. She noticed the accumulated tears in my eyes, and she opened her arms to hug me. I didnt resist the generous embrace of a stranger. I needed that hug, but I couldnt understand why. I didnt go in containers or on boats. I didnt drown. I wasnt kidnapped or tortured or sold for slavery and sex by human traffickers. I am safe. But why am I feeling vulnerable?

A journalist there wanted to do a story about Housam and me. We talked about the war and the struggles, hoping to raise awareness. It was only after wed finished and left that we realised how much we had been through. We had never talked about it.

Our story was published in the Connacht Tribune. I dont know if it made much of an impact. Still, when I saw a picture of Housam and me with a full-page article in the newspaper, I realised that our normal life had become a hot story, accompanied by words like survive and tragedy and home and hope and new beginnings and gratefulness. We had become news, despite our efforts to escape it.

Every morning when I scanned the news, Syria would be in the headlines. Country X is fed up with the refugees. Country Y is closing its borders in their faces. A boat sank carrying refugees from Syria. A Syrian refugee did something bad. A Syrian refugee did something good.

Every morning, I read the news. I read it all. I looked at the dead bodies, the exploded remains, the miserable faces at borders, the bodies skeletal from hunger, the weeping mothers and the scared kids.

I would close my web browser, wash my face, drink my coffee and go to work, helpless, hopeless and in denial, fighting the pressing thought that I didnt deserve to survive. I would greet my colleagues and complain about the weather and the overpriced food in the cafeteria and other first-world problems.

Early in 2016, I got an invitation through Euraxess to speak at the European Commission in Brussels about the challenges of the refugee crisis, and to share my story, along with two other Syrians.

It was overwhelming to be in a room with everyone talking about the one topic I didnt want to talk about. But I was desperate to do something, anything, to help Syria, to heal Syria. I thought I was over the idea of having a homeland I couldnt return to, but the memories were pushing hard to the surface, and I tried my best to push them back down. I fought the urge to cry whenever someone mentioned a statistic about displaced, dead, drowned or illegal refugees. I tried not to think about how those numbers and percentages represented people I knew and cared about.

I have to be strong, I thought. I have to represent the resilient Syrian, the one willing to do the impossible to survive.

Then it was my turn to talk. It was tricky to do this without opening the box of memories. I kept it professional. I did not talk about how I was terrified by the explosions that happened a few metres away from me. I did not mention how I used to go to sleep early, wearing many layers of clothing, because it was too cold and too dark to stay awake. I skipped the part about my engagement and marriage during the war. I briefly mentioned my father-in-laws martyrdom, but I definitely did not mention how we saw photos of his body all over social media. How it haunts us still.

I never talked about how we didnt dare to dream of having a kid because we were too damaged to raise a child in this unfair world. I skipped many stories, a lot of pain and tears that had no place at that conference. Instead, I talked about timelines and statistics, gave examples of ongoing initiatives and suggested ideas that could be life-changing for many refugees. The conference ended with a lot of applause and I felt good for doing my bit and not falling apart.

On the plane back to the place I called home, I closed my eyes above the clouds and let the pilot do his bit. The flight attendant broadcast a message to the passengers over the tannoy. It wasnt about seatbelts, nor was it about our location or destination. It was about Syria.

Syrian children are facing a lot of pain and suffering from cold and hunger. Please help us raise funds to support them. I looked around to see people getting out their wallets and putting money in an envelope with the Unicef logo on it. I was grateful for all the kind hearts on that plane, but heartbroken to hear my countrys name mentioned in a donation campaign.

At that moment, all the blocked memories rushed in. The miserable faces, the dead bodies, the explosions, my little cat, my grandmother. My whole life burst from my overloaded memory, and I wept.

Suad Aldarra now lives in Dublin with her husband and son. This is an edited extract from her new memoir, I Dont Want to Talk About Home, published by Transworld.

The rest is here:
'I didn't want to talk about Syria while waiting for the bus or having a haircut' - The Irish Times

Berlin/San Jose More than 1,238 lives have been lost during migration in the Americas in 2021, among them at least 51 children, according to new data published by the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) Missing Migrants Project (MMP). At least 728 of these deaths occurred on the United States-Mexico border crossing, making this the deadliest land crossing in the world, according to the data.

The dangers facing people on the move throughout the region revealed by the data were highlighted on 27 June with the discovery of 53 bodies in an abandoned tractor trailer in San Antonio, Texas, and the hospitalization of 16 survivors. This tragedy increases the total number of deaths so far in 2022 to 493, and it serves as a reminder of the underreported migrant deaths that take place at the United States-Mexico border and throughout the Americas, and of the families left behind.

The number of deaths on the United States-Mexico border last year is significantly higher than in any year prior, even before COVID-19, said Edwin Viales, author of the new IOM report on migrants in the Americas in 2021. Yet, this number remains an undercount due to the diverse challenges for data collection.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, an increasing number of people from Latin America and the Caribbean are undertaking dangerous irregular journeys. Mobility restrictions enacted in response to the pandemic and not yet lifted may also have led to a funnel effect, driving migrants with limited options to increasingly dangerous routes.

Many deaths recorded on these routes are from countries with high numbers of asylum seekers. At least 136 Venezuelans have died in transit in the last 18 months, in addition to 108 Cubans and 90 Haitians. However, the largest demographic in the available data on migrant deaths in the Americas is unidentified people. The countries of origin of over 500 people whose deaths were recorded since 2021 are listed as unknown.

Our data shows the growing crisis of deaths during migration in the region, and the need to strengthen the forensic capacity of the authorities to identify deaths on these routes. We cannot forget that every single number is a human being with a family who may never know what happened to them, said Viales.

Despite commitments to save migrant lives and prevent further deaths and disappearances in the Global Compact for Migration, and despite relevant obligations under international law, the situation on the ground remains extremely dangerous for people on the move in the Americas.

In the Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) held in May 2022, the United Nations General Assembly reaffirmed the collective responsibility to preserve the lives of all migrants and take action to prevent loss of migrant lives and, in this context, remained deeply concerned that thousands of migrants continue to die or go missing each year along perilous routes on land and at sea, in transit, and destination countries. In April 2022, the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) in an extraordinary declaration also underscored the importance of saving lives by establishing coordinated international efforts on missing migrants.

A report with analysis of 2021 data on migrant deaths in the Americas can be found here (executive summary in English). The full version of the report in Spanish can be found here.

The latest Missing Migrants Project data on the Americas can be found at missingmigrants.iom.int/region/Americas

***

For more information please contact:

Jorge Galindo at IOM GMDAC, Tel: +49 1601 791 536, Email: jgalindo@iom.int

Safa Msehli at IOM HQ, Tel: +41 79 403 5526. Email: smsehli@iom.int

Read the original post:
Latest Migrant Tragedy in Texas Highlights Crisis Along Deadliest Migration Land Route - International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The realities of migration and a tumultuous refugee crisis are not just on Turkey's agenda but the entire world. The number of people who leave their homes and countries for various reasons and flock to foreign countries is increasing rapidly. Some are on the road alone, others are with their families, their elderly parents and their children wrapped in swaddling clothes. The journey into the unknown becomes even more frightening with the difficulties they encounter in the countries they arrive in.

Recently, the issue of immigration the extent and its result cannot be forecasted was discussed recently at a two-day conference held in Istanbul. I was among the observers of the Global Parliamentary Migration conference held on June 20-21, hosted by the Turkish Parliament with the initiative of Parliament Speaker Mustafa entop. After the conference, where potential solutions to the migration and refugee problem and necessary steps to be taken were evaluated, I met entop to discuss what was on my mind.

I first wanted to touch on Turkey's immigration burden, which is heavier than most countries. When I asked for entop's views regarding the necessity of easing this burden, he said: "It is necessary to alleviate the heavy migration burden on certain countries and ensure that it is shared fairly."

Everyone, from politicians and bureaucrats to citizens, shares the same idea on this issue. After all, Turkey has been hosting the highest number of refugees in the world for eight years. Our population is 85 million, and according to official statements, there are 4 million refugees in the country, 3.6 million of which are Syrian. That means that around 5% of the population consists of refugees. Yes, the number is high and this is a cause of concern. While the issue of migration and refugees is common, many Western countries continue to ignore it.

Based on what I witnessed, I can say that the prohibition of discrimination in the West generally remains on paper. Prejudices, xenophobia and double standards prevail throughout that part of the world. Instead of taking responsibility for a tragedy, they shift the burden of migration and the responsibilities entirely on the shoulders of the surrounding countries. Is this state of ignorance sustainable? By looking at the influx and reasoning, I would say absolutely not. At this point, all countries must act with a humanitarian and conscious approach. To take action, governments must not lose time.

So what is the reason behind this state of ignorance regarding the issue of migration? Is Islamophobia the reason they want to close their doors on refugees, or the resulting economic burden that the refugees would bring to their countries?

If you ask me, it's the lack of empathy. I would fully endorse this statement from entop: "Actually, there is no multiculturalism in Europe. From time immemorial, Europe showed no tolerance for those who were different and expressed no desire to live together. Even among themselves. Catholics, Protestants and Jews lived separately. Europe does not have an inclusive, comprehensive culture that can transform into high culture."

As someone born and raised abroad, I agree with him 100%. Turkey, unlike Europe, comes from a multicultural world. Turkish people live in a land where people with different languages and religions have lived together for over 1,000 years. That is why integration is much easier for Turkey.

In my opinion, it is incorrect to say that the West maintains considerable distance from migrants coming from the Middle East and Africa because of religion. Even if they behave with more tolerance toward immigrants from within Europe compared to those from the Middle East, they are closed to immigration among themselves. Ultimately they do not want to include people from other countries. This is the main problem. But it is an inevitable situation. In the new world order, whether they like it or not, all countries will experience this, and they will continue to receive immigrants, legally or illegally.

I believe that migration will continue because war is not the only reason people sail into the unknown. There are even more important reasons for migration beyond war and safety. Of course, people are unsafe because of conflicts and wars. They are trying to escape their homeland. But this problem can be solved. In my opinion, economic difficulties and the lack of humane living conditions are among the reasons that should be considered more seriously. After all, when people facing hunger cannot find a job in their own country and their hopes are exhausted, it becomes inevitable to embark on a deadly journey.

Furthermore, another more permanent and long-term reason for migration has emerged in recent years: Climate change. Many regions are becoming uninhabitable even though there are job opportunities. Famine, drought and abnormal meteorological circumstances compel people to leave their homeland.

Although there are distinct reasons behind this inevitable migration, there is a general concern that the demographic of society has deteriorated, regardless of how much we try to empathize. Ignoring this reality is objectionable, as it will set the stage for social outrage. It must be explained that this situation is not unique to Turkey. There is an unstoppable movement everywhere, from Europe to Africa. Noticeable demographic changes are happening in the world.

When immigration is mentioned, countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sudan first come to mind. But the Russia-Ukraine war has changed this perception. The war caused Europe to confront the issue of migration more closely. Western countries had to experience the events they once watched from afar right under their noses. According to official figures, approximately 7 million people moved to nearby countries within a month and a half.

I remember the speaker of the Polish parliament saying at the meeting of the European Union Parliament Speakers in Slovenia that 2 million people came to his country in 15 days. This statement did not create the desired effect in the room, and no one found this figure interesting. Then he said "the population of Slovenia is 2 million. Imagine, a Slovenia came to us in 15 days." Finally, the audience came to their senses with this concrete example. At that moment, it made me think that it was time to understand that these numbers are not just mathematical equations but that each number represents a helpless person. It is time to show empathy and be a humanist rather than a racist.

There is the reality I mentioned before: The number of people in Turkey disturbed by the rate and intensity of migration to the country is not low at all. Some are worried that this situation will become permanent. I wanted to get some information from entop regarding what authorities think about this and what they are doing.

I found his response hopeful: "Of course, we all know the magnitude of Turkey's burden. But one should not think that it is completely permanent. Turkey is a destination country on the one hand and a transit country on the other. Since it is located at the intersection of Asia, Africa and Europe, there may be transfers via Turkey. After all, there will be a voluntary return when conditions improve in Syria. I think most of them will go," entop said.

I do not believe this return has anything to do with worsening conditions in Turkey, as some claim. Because I know this: Life is difficult for refugees everywhere. They are not citizens, the jobs they can do are limited, and they are trying hard to hold on in a country where they do not even know the language.

In terms of Syrians specifically, most of those in Turkey are living under difficult conditions. Therefore, I think they will prefer to return to their country over time. Also, if Western countries support Turkey's investment in the safe zone as they have promised, the return process will accelerate. But the West's approach of "this is your problem and their problem" paints an embarrassing picture for humanity and seeks to intensify the problem.

But there is still hope that the promises made will be fulfilled and everyone can return to their motherlands and loved ones as soon as possible.

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Is there hope for global migrant waves? | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

The United Kingdoms Rwanda asylum policy has been in the global spotlight since it was signed in April this year.

The U.K government introduced this policy under the economic development partnership. Through this, the asylum seekers will be flown 6,500 km away to Rwanda, which will handle the processing of their asylum claims.

This deal was introduced mainly as a measure to prevent the loss of life that happened because of the dangerous crossings. This policy will be introduced as a pilot for 5 years.

The UK has made an upfront payment of 120 million to Rwanda to cover the cost of housing and integration of the asylum seekers till their applications are processed.

In the wake of the migrant crisis of 2015, more than one million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe. There was a divide between how different European Union countries responded. Some welcomed the migrants, while some made their immigration policies stricter.

In 2016, when Britain decided to withdraw from the European Union, one of its most important themes of the campaign was taking control of immigration. And after Brexit, the U.K introduced a policy that gave entry to those who wanted to work in the U.K. through a points-based system.

In 2021, over 28,000 people entered in boats, compared to 8,500 people in 2020. They seek the help of human smugglers and illegal traffickers.

But the migrants will be given refugee status only based on the strength of their asylum claim. Those rejected would have to leave the country within 5 days.

On June 15, the first flight that was set to carry the asylum seekers to Rwanda was cancelled at the last minute.

This was after the European Court of Human Rights ruled against it as some of the immigrants didnt have the guarantee of a legal future in Rwanda.

Rwandas own human rights record is another reason why this policy faces flak.

In the past other countries like Australia, Israel, and Denmark have also established such policies. They were also deemed cruel and were opposed heavily.

Reports say that the legality of the U.K-Rwanda asylum policy will be tested in a full court hearing next month.

Read more:
Watch | Why is UK sending its refugees to Rwanda? - The Hindu

Zofia Zayons has cancelled her gym membership,physio sessions,streaming services andhas stopped eating out.

"At this point, the only thing that I can leverage is my time," Ms Zayons, from Hobart, said.

Juggling an interest rate rise after purchasing her first home last year, and an electricity bill she waswarned by the providerwould double, Ms Zayonsdecided tofindextra work.

Outside of her full-time role as a venue manager, Ms Zayons, 29,is moonlighting in a wine barand as a freelance communications officer for a government agency.

"I'm managing [working threejobs] but I'm tired and I know that what I'm doing now isn't sustainable forever,"she said.

"My next steps are a little unclear about how I'll continue to manage the future."

With little time between shifts at her three jobs, Ms Zayons plans her meals ahead, determined to avoid eating out.

Adapting to rising costs while remaining on a stagnant wage,Ms Zayonssaid she had also begun to buy some frozen vegetables rather than fresh ones, and was thinking twice before turning on the heating.

"You don't really expect that after studying two university degrees, taking on further study in your field, [and] having worked for five years that you do have to take on extra work it's kind of frustrating," she said.

Lucas Walsh, director of Monash University's Centre for Youth Policy, said young people were coming of age in a time of soaring house prices, less secure job markets and credential inflation where more and more qualifications were needed to secure a particular level of earning.

All of which, Professor Walsh said, was making it harder for them to plan their futures.

"Not being able to plan creates a level of uncertainty that has anxiety attached to it,"he said.

The markers of adulthood, like moving from education to the workforce, securing a house through ownership or rental, and starting a family were breaking down, Professor Walsh said.

"These markers are being eroded by things like the inflated housing prices andthe fact that less secure work is making it more difficult for young people to secure loans,"he said.

While Professor Walsh said it was too early to understandhow the current cost of living crisis was exacerbating these trends, he was certain about one thing.

"When we see economic downturns such as the global financial crisis, we see young people impacted immediately and disproportionately in relation to other age groups," he said.

For culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Professor Walsh said the impacts of an economic downturn could be compounded.

"If you're from a first- or second-generation migrant background, you're more likely to experience racism and exclusion, and that flows on into employment,"he said.

Mira Sulistiyanto, 25,in Adelaide is tossing up whether she should take a financial riskand return to university for post-graduate study next yearto upskill.

Ms Sulistiyanto, who currently works full time in the international development sector,said she wasworried that reducingher working hours and accruing more HECS debtwas not a smart idea in the current economic climate.

"I think there aresome important questions about whether increasing economic pressures do cause adeterrent for people to pursue further study, and the potential consequences of that," shesaid.

The rising cost of living isalso up-ending other parts ofher life.

Ms Sulistiyanto said shenormally travelled to Indonesia as often as possible to visit family in Java because itwas incredibly important to her.

But it was becomingdifficult to justify the travel costs, she said.

"Since the pandemic, and then with these increasing economic pressures, that's starting to feel not impossible, but definitely increasingly out of reach."

Ms Sulistiyanto said manyin her social circlesfelt the same.

Asense of economic dread was hovering above the conversations she had withfriends as they increasingly talked about money and shared tips on how to save.

Ms Sulistiyanto said she had tried to rein in spending on "luxuries" like catching Uber rides, eating out and cutting out takeaway orders.

She used helpful tricks from her friends including planning groceries a week in advance and dividing her earnings into 'buckets' in her bank account to save money.

In Wyndham Vale, on Melbourne's westernfringe, Vinu Shankar Ganesunand his young family recently moved into their newly-builthome.

But as costs continue to rise, Mr Ganesun and his wife Akilawho immigrated from India six years ago on skilled worker visas are beginning to consider if they should stay in Australia.

"[If we're] no better off compared to where we came from, it raises that migration question," Mr Ganesun said.

"Do we move closer to the family [in India] and at least that way we feel more comfortable?"

Mr Ganesun,who runs his own business consulting firm, said new migrants like him were in a unique situation when it came to cost of living pressures.

Not only does Mr Ganesun support family in India, and cover travel costs so they can visit each other, he is trying to build a life from scratch in Australia.

"[It's] kind of like travelling on two rails," he said.

"A lot of times you also have wider responsibilities, especially if you have younger siblings, so you are sort of financially responsible for them as well."

With his wife driving more than 110km each day to work inearly childhood education, and the family eating a plant-based diet,Mr Ganesun said fuel and grocery costs had risen steeply.

He said it was hard to cut down on fuel costs because the public transport in his area was not very accessible.

Mr Ganesun said the rising prices meant he was yet to start paying himself super since starting his own business last year.

"I've been busy making ends meet and have not reached the level of substantial savings when I feel like I can now start investing in my super,"he said.

"The cost of living just eats into the savings, and that has a longer-term impact on our financial goals."

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Laura Higgins, from ASIC's MoneySmart which provides free tools and services to help people make financial decisions said there were a number of things people could try if they wanted to improve their financial situation.

The best place to start was to make a list of all spending,Ms Higgins said.

"Understanding all of your financial commitments, being really honest about that, and understanding where your money's going," she said.

It was important to assess needs versus nice-to-haves and consider where changes in spending and priorities could be made, she said.

"How much money are you spending on groceries versus takeaway and going out to restaurantssometimes tweaking your spending and changing the balance of that can make a big difference."

Transport was another area where savings could be made. Ms Higgins said carpooling or bike riding were things people could consider to lower fuel costs.

"[Even] once a week, those behaviours can make a big difference over time," she said.

Sharing costs and downsizing everything from finding a housemate and sharing bills to culling online subscriptions could be considered, Ms Higgins said.

For those feeling overwhelmed, Ms Higgins suggested reaching out to the National Debt Helpline on1800 007 007 or accessing MoneySmart's other resources online.

"Making some changes can be a good thingand can be quite empowering, and change the way people feel about their financial situation," she said.

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Posted2 Jul 20222 Jul 2022Sat 2 Jul 2022 at 7:33pm, updated3h ago3 hours agoMon 4 Jul 2022 at 10:12pm

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Australia's cost of living crisis is forcing some to make difficult decisions about their future - ABC News