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As Amy Boyden clambered over a mountain of orange foam lifejackets on the Greek island of Lesbos, the nauseating scale of the humanitarian crisis knocking on Europes door hit her hard.

It felt like I was at a funeral," she said. "There were thousands and thousands and thousands of lifejackets."

You can walk over them. It felt like walking across the ocean and across dead bodies. The air was so still and there was such a sense of hopelessness. Its so sad that these people had to go through this.

A graveyard of lifejackets

Ms Boyden, a recent UCC Law graduate, visited 'Lifejacket Graveyard', a place where washed-up lifejackets or those left on the beaches by people who make it to shore are gathered after she arrived on the Greek island as an international humanitarian aid worker this year to help with the unending refugee crisis.

She noticed a little girls shoes among the mountains of black and orange foam.

What happened to that four-year-old girl who wore those shoes? Did she survive?

"Its so distressing to think of my own niece in that situation, Ms Boyden said.

But despite their overwhelming mass, the volume of jackets at Lifejacket Graveyard barely hints at the scale of the refugee crisis.

Internationally, some 82.4m people are forcibly displaced worldwide according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

And although headlines now rarely scream about people drowning in the Mediterranean, 815 people have died trying to make that crossing already this year, according to estimates by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Missing Migrants project.

And Greece, a country that saw more than a million people arrive on its shores during the refugee crisis of 2015 and 2016, is now hardening its stance on new arrivals.

The Mediterranean country says it has little choice due to the lack of support from the rest of Europe.

Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi recently told Reuters that the government is taking a tougher approach so we dont send the wrong message of incentivising people to come to Greece.

Many of those who arrive in Greece do so through Lesbos, which is only separated from Turkey by a narrow strait.

People ferried like livestock

From Turkey, people are stuffed onto little boats like livestock and are often sold fake lifejackets, death traps painted brightly to pose as something good.

The horrifying subject of defective lifejackets was raised in the European Parliament as far back as 2016, when they were viewed as clearly to blame for many deaths at sea.

These people are just like you and me, they have skills and dreams and aspirations.

"Its horrifying how theyve been treated," Ms Boyden said.

Inspired by her godmother, who still volunteers in her 60s, Ms Boyden eventually made the trip to Greece in March, two months after she planned to leave following five Covid-cancelled flights.

Ms Boyden has been teaching English at the Kara Tepe or New Moria refugee camp which was hastily located on an abandoned army firing range after a fire ripped through the infamous Moria refugee camp last September.

Moria, Europes largest refugee camp, was originally designed to hold 3,000 people but 13,000 subsisted there when the fire hit in the middle of a Covid outbreak.

Armageddon-like images from that fire and its aftermath show dazed children clutching what little possessions they could save as they shuffle beneath looming charred security fences ensnared in sharp, blackened barbed wire.

Human Rights Watch raised serious concerns that the new site where Ms Boyden works has significant lead poisoning from its days as a firing range.

Some 6,000 souls in the camp

However, Ms Boyden said that the facilities are at least an improvement on Moria, and the camp is not as overcrowded.

It is estimated that some 6,000 people live at the new, temporary camp including more than 2,000 minors.

A strict lockdown was imposed on the camp to contain the spread of Covid-19, further limiting the already restricted lives of its inhabitants.

She said life at the camp is not easy for those seeking asylum:

The shelter is completely inadequate. There are two, three families living in one tent with no windows. The temperatures are rising, well be seeing 30 degrees heat with little to no shading or shelter. Its unbearable to stay inside the tents.

There is running water, toilets, showers but people sometimes have to walk quite a bit to get to them.

Its pretty tough. The mental health situation in the camp is catastrophic. Theres a lack of resources for supporting people trapped in this situation, theyre overstretched.

Some people say to me that every day is the same. All their hope is drained. Theres a lot of waiting and isolation.

Everyone wears masks in camp, she said, and an NGO provides hand sanitation. There are rapid antigen and PCR tests and if someone tests positive they go into a quarantine area for two weeks. However, serious cases of Covid in the camp have been very rare, she said, as most people are still quite young.

Refugees fleeing horrific situations

Ms Boyden teaches adults. Her youngest pupil is 18 and her oldest is 46.

Im teaching them how to read and write its very rewarding," she says. "They try so hard. They just need to believe in themselves more.

Learning a European language empowers them and will be valuable when navigating the asylum process, she said.

She said that many of her students have had to flee horrifying realities in their home countries.

A lot of them come from Afghanistan. To face the Taliban, to decide that youre going to leave with your family and walk across so many countries by foot. Its insane.

Then they have to go on that boat journey from Turkey to Greece which is also so treacherous:

Theyre so desperate, they feel they have no other option but to put their whole family in the boat and just hope to God that they wont drown, or be pushed back.

The Greek authorities have repeatedly denied that their coastguards have been pushing migrant boats back into Turkish waters.

However, Ms Boyden said that allegations about this horrible practice are rife.

She said that people are too quick to demand that people should now return to countries such as Afghanistan which are still violent and unstable.

'We'll never understand what they've lost'

It makes me so angry. A lot of people say, well if the country is safe refugees should go back to them'. But if they were willing to make that massive, dangerous journey, well never begin to understand what they have gone through and what theyve lost.

In Kabul, in Afghanistan, 40 schoolgirls were killed in a bombing. Or in Iran, an Iranian man was beheaded because of his sexual orientation. Or in Palestine, the Gaza Strip is being bombed by Israel.

If your daughter runs the risk of being blown up going to school, is this a safe place?

If your son runs the risk of being beheaded because of his sexual orientation, dont you think he has the right to leave and resettle? I think they have every right.

'Unspeakable crimes against human rights'

Unspeakable crimes against human rights are being committed every day.

All these men, women, and children travel thousands of miles in search of a safe haven. But they continuously face inhumane treatment and breaches of human rights law, even when they make it to Europes door.

Its devastating to see peoples hopes and dreams being drained in camps.

Its intense. Recently, there was a mother of three, she was pregnant with her fourth child and she put her three children outside the tent, she went back in and set herself on fire. She just could not do it any more.

"But she didnt die, and now shes being prosecuted for arson.

'Ireland could do more'

Ms Boyden believes that Ireland could do more to help these people, by ending direct provision and by taking in more refugees.

When the camp Moria burned down in September 2020, Ireland said it would take in four refugees four out of more than 12,000 people.

Since the 1800s, 10m Irish people have migrated to countries across the world. Ireland, I feel, could take in far more refugees. We have quite a low population, and so many countries took us in. I feel we should do something in return.

These people just want their children to go to school without the fear of them being blown up by extremists. They just want to live peaceful lives.

We have a tendency to turn a blind eye if its not affecting us. But if it was affecting you, God almighty, youd want somebody to be helping you.

She encouraged every adult to volunteer.

Its a hugely rewarding experience and anyone can do it. Its great to make life that bit better for people, to help them forget the nightmare theyve been living and to show them that there is hope.

Ms Boyden is fundraising for school materials and for hygiene products and clothes for fast-growing babies and children at the camp.

To donate to her campaign, visit exa.mn/AmyBoydenFundraiser.

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Refugee crisis: 'What happened to that four-year-old girl who wore those shoes?' - Irish Examiner

As Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is moving to allocate $250 million of state taxpayer money toward completing the southern border wall within his state, which began construction under President Trump but halted under President Biden, "The Five" discussed how governors are filling the absence of leadership at the federal level when it comes to the migrant crisis.

On Thursday, host Dana Perino pointed to Abbott's decision to use state money for what is supposed to be a federal responsibility as a result of inaction from Biden and Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

"I think it is very real," Perino replied when asked whether Abbott is acting in real support of his state, or in support of partisan politics. "Especially if you are in Texas and one big frustration has to be for the governor that they have this problem, the federal government is unwilling to helpbut immigration and border security is a federal government responsibility."

"That's why it's amazing that they say, we will take a billion dollars of state taxpayer money to try to deal with this problem,'" she said. Texas allocated $1 billion to border security with $250 million being a down payment for the border wall.

Perino added that she understands Abbott's frustration with the Biden administration.

"On the political side of things, because of the lack of action by the Biden administration, you are allowing these governors a chance to shine," she said, adding that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R, is the other border state governor appearing to make decisions towards addressing the issue.

However, she noted, the other two border state governors, Govs. Michelle Lujan-Grisham of New Mexico and Gavin Newsom of Californiaboth Democratsare not being proactive in addressing border security.

Cohost Jesse Watters recalled Biden's predecessor who sought to help states with their crises rather than ignore them.

"I remember when we had a president that would help the states. He sent New York ventilators," Watters said, referring to former President Trump giving federal assistance to New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Now Biden is hanging Texas out to dry, so [Abbott] stepping up."

"But like Dana said, it is hard for a governor to build a border wall because most of that is federal land in the land that is not federal land, it is privately owned, all landowners adjacent to each other all have to agree to have a wall built," Watters noted.

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During a testy exchange in a congressional hearing on Thursday, Mayorkas bristled at Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who asked him about Vice President Harris' "laugh" about visiting the border, and whether that was a proper response.

"I consider that question to be quite unfair and disrespectful," Mayorkas replied.

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Dana Perino: Biden's inaction on immigration crisis, border wall allows 'governors a chance to shine' - Fox News

In a world divided by nation-states, immigration remains one of the contentious and debated issues. Objections have been raised by governments of both developed and developing nations about the unchecked inflow of migrants due to employment, political instability, and religious persecution. While there is a growing consensus among nations to check illegal immigration, the case of refugees provides for a unique case.

According to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is defined as someone who left his home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. On June 20 each year, United Nations commemorates the day as World Refugee Day. For 2021, the world body has channelised its focus on the power of inclusion.

In its own words, UN remarked, The shared experience of COVID-19 has shown us that we only succeed if we stand together. We have all had to do our part to keep each other safe and despite the challenges, refugees and displaced people have stepped up. Given the chance, refugees will continue to contribute to a stronger, safer, and more vibrant world. A closer look at the refugee crisis in Europe, United States and even India portrays a contrary picture than what the United Nations wants us to believe.

The refugee crisis in Europe began in 2014, with forced migration reaching its peak in 2015. According to the UNHCR, the majority of those arriving on European shores from the Meditteranean Sea were Iraqi (9.4%), Afghan (20.9%), and Syrian (46.7%). By November 2015, Sweden had received over 146,000 asylum seekers. And the result was imminent. In 2018, Daily Caller reported that a majority of rape accused (58%) between 2012-2017 were foreign-born.

Out of the foreign-born rapists, a whopping 40% came from Africa or the Middle East while those hailing from Afghanistan accounted for 5% of rapes and attempted rapes. In about 80% of cases where the victim did not know the accused, the perpetrator was found to be of foreign-origin. However, over fears of being racist, Sweden had reportedly banned the practice of describing criminals in the year 2016. While the Swedish authorities had been wary of being dubbed as racist, they did not do much to deport rapists. Daily Caller reported that only 1 out of 5 foreign-origin rapists and attempted rapists were extradited to their home country.

Between 2014 and 2016, multiple sexual harassment incidents surfaced during the We Are Sthlm, an annual youth festival. The Swedish police had to launch an internal investigation to probe allegations of coverup of assaults perpetrated by migrant youths. The Spectator reported that violent crime had been soaring in Sweden. It stated, Its widely known that gang members are mainly first- and second-generation immigrants. Several neighbourhoods had become no-go zones for Swedish citizens without police protection.

In 2015, the Swedish Security Service was notified about 500 suspected migrants who were linked to terrorism charges and war crimes. Besides the menace of rising crime, refugees were also found to bring in MRSA infections in the Skane province in Sweden. At the same time, about 20-30% of refugees were found to have mental disorders. The country also reported an increase in tuberculosis cases after four health workers contracted it in an asylum centre. It was also found that 90% of those suffering from tuberculosis were born abroad.

Owing to an increase in the number of immigrants, a leaked internal memo showed that the Swedish government was mulling to cut down on all public services. Despite opening its arms to the refugees, the staff members at the Swedish Migration Agency complained about death threats and harassment by refugees applying for permanent residence in the country. The migrants would call the staff on their cell phones or stalk them on social media platforms.

At the height of the migrant crisis in Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the country had the economic strength to take in refugees. She also claimed that there was no upper limit to the number of refugees that the country could take in. Angela Merkel had come under fierce criticism for not consulting the federal States. Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), had criticised the Chancellor and estimated that 30% of all refugees were from Syria. He had called upon the EU to cut funding to member States that reject mandatory refugee quotas.

A German study in 2018 found that the countrys fourth-most-populous state, Lower Saxony, witnessed an increase in violent crimes due to incoming migrants. Between 2007 and 2014, the region saw a 21.9% decline in such crimes. However, there was a 10.4% hike by 2016 end. It was found that Lower Saxony had about 7.5 lac residents without German citizenship. By 2016 end, only 1.5 lac migrants had applied for asylum. 92.1% of the total increase in crimes in Lower Saxony was attributed to the incoming migrants.

Bloomberg reported, Between 2014 and 2016, the share of solved violent crimes attributed to asylum seekers increased to 13.3 percent from 4.3 percent a disproportionately high share compared with the statesforeign population The breakdown of specific crimes committed by the asylum seekers is equally thought-provoking. In some 91 percent of murders and three-quarters of cases involving grave bodily damage, the victims are othermigrants.

The liberal, open-border policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel had turned the country into the most sought after destination for refugees. Between January and December 2015, a whopping 1.091 million asylum-seekers registered with the German government for their distribution among federal States. However, in February 2016, the government conceded that it lost track of 13% of the asylum seekers. Reportedly, the migrants did not move to their accommodation and instead migrated to other European countries or kept living in the country illegally.

The result of left-liberal indoctrination was such that a German politician by the name of Selin Gren lied about the racial identity of the 3 perpetrators who raped her in 2016. The woman was caught off guard by the men at night in a playground and forced to perform sexual acts. She had concealed the fact that the accused spoke in Arabic /Farsi. She claimed that she did not want to stoke hatred against migrants in Germany. The policies of the German government to wholeheartedly welcome the refugees proved costly.

The Rohingya refugee crisis is the largest refugee crisis in the world today, after the exodus of over a million Syrians into Europe in 2016.India has seen massive infiltration by Rohingya Muslims mostly from Rakhine in Myanmar. The government of India has maintained a tough stand against the infiltration. After the Citizenship Amendment Act was enacted by the Modi government, Home Minister Amit Shah had vociferously responded to Muslim leaders and said that Rohingya Muslims pose a security threat and would not be allowed to settle in India.

In July 2018, Economic Timesreportedlittle-known Rohingya terror group Aqa Mul Mujahideen or HaY (Harakah al-Yaqin is called Aqa Mul Mujahideen by the Myanmar government) blamed for the recent attacks on Myanmar border outposts by the countrys president not only maintains links with Hafiz Saeeds Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) but is learnt to have developed ties with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) cell in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rohingyas had also massacred Hindus in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. In 2017, Myanmar Army issued a statement that a mass grave of 28 Hindus was discovered in the conflict-torn Rakhine state. The Myanmar Army had confirmed that they had found 20 dead women and eight men in the graves, including six boys under the age of ten. Not too long ago, it wasreportedthat 1300 Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh from India fearing deportation to Myanmar.

Rohingyas have also beenregularly apprehendedby local law enforcement. Union Ministers have also said that they pose a security threat to the country. In October 2019, Seven Rohingya Muslims who were lodged in jail since 2012 for illegally entering India weresent to Myanmarborder fordeportation. The governmenthas also decidedto deport 23 more Rohingyas, who have been staying at various detention camps in Assam after they were caught staying illegally in the state.

It is important to remember here that India is not a party to the 1951 Convention on Refugees and neither the 1967 Protocol. Therefore, no international convention is binding on India. Even if we take into account the international conventions, the Rohingyas are clearly bypassing a safe haven in the form of Bangladesh to reach India for the purpose of gaining material benefits. Thus it makes them economic migrants when they enter India and not persecuted minorities.

While the United Nations has been advocating the inclusion of refugees, the question remains whether the incoming migrants are willing to assimilate with the culture of the host nation. As the refugee crisis in Germany, Sweden and India shows, the surge in the number of refugees can lead to increase crime, demographic change and inconvenience for the natives.

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On World Refugee Day, read how Germany, Sweden, and India bore the brunt of incoming refugees - OpIndia

As the refugee crisis grew across the world, a new trend in childrens literature has also kicked in, sharing stories of refugees in childrens books.

In recent decades, conflicts from Afghanistan to Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Myanmar have led to a growing refugee crisis, which has inspired so many people to tell the stories of trauma, displacement, long arduous journeys and asylum.

The growing volume of refugee childrens literature can be instrumental in developing empathy in host communities, according to authors and refugee advocates.

This literature could also potentially help shape global opinion in favour of refugees.

Here are some of influential books children can read to understand what it means to be a refugee.

The Journey

This book explains a fatherless familys incredible journey from a war-torn country to a safe country through the voice of a little girl. Francesca Sanna, the books writer, has interviewed with many refugee and migrant families across the world. But among all, the two girls she met in a refugee center in Italy inspired her to tell a story about many journeys. Bonus: it is beautifully illustrated.

Lubna and Pebble

Lubna, a little refugee girl, has a best friend, a stone, whom she tells all her tales about everything from home to war. Pebble never interrupts her and always loyally listens to Lubnas stories with a smiling face. Lubna lives in a tent and despite the difficulties, she feels lucky to have Pebble. But when a little boy comes to their refugee camp alone and heartbroken, Lubnas world fundamentally changes, recognising that this boy needs Pebbles friendship more than Lubna does.

The storys author is Wendy Meddour, who is also a well-known illustrator, credited with helping to improve understanding between different races and cultures. She has previously been honoured with the John C Laurence Award for writing.

The Kite Runner: Children's Edition

The book is a children's adaptation of the best-seller novel written by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan writer and a member of a refugee family, who moved to Iran in 1973 after a military coup in Afghanistan. The book tells a refugee familys struggles through the lens of an Afghan boy, focusing on a father-son relationship. It also sends the message that loyalty to a friendship can rescue relationships and also lives.

Where Will I Live?

This book is a collection of photos, portraying refugee children around the world. When people hear the word of photos of refugee children, they expect to see kids in hopeless and miserable conditions.

But Rosemary McCarney, a photographer and the author of the book, aims to show the images of hope and power in refugee childrens eyes. If you want to see how kids could develop an incredible sense of optimism under miserable conditions, check this book out.

Refugee

This book will make you travel not only in time but also to different continents across the world with stories of refugee children from Nazi Germany prior to World War II to Cuba in Central America in 1990s. The books most recent hero, Mahmoud, is a Muslim Syrian boy from Aleppo.

Like other refugee children from Germany and Cuba, Mahmoud was also forced to leave his hometown Aleppo in the midst of a brutal civil war in 2015. The books author, Alan Gratz, has written many novels for young adults. (The book is appropriate for 11+).

A Stepping Stones: A Refugees Familys Journey

Unlike adult literature, children's books not only contain simple, poetic prose but also carry illustrations to help kids understand some complicated circumstances. This book is one of the most beautifully illustrated books with stone artwork by Nizar Ali Badr, thanks to Canadian childrens author Margriet Ruurs fateful discovery of Badrs artwork.

Ruurs recounted a Syrian refugee familys difficult journey, using Badrs poignant stone images, which was already produced by the Syrian artist.

Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina

In a memoir written by Sierra Leone-origin orphan Michaela DePrince, who grew up in an orphanage as an abandoned child, the author narrates how she suffered from a skin condition, which left spots on her body and led some people around her to call her a devil child. The orphanage had a picture of a beautiful ballerina hanging on the wall, which inspired DePrince to dance like her.

The 4-year-old de DePrince was adopted by an American family, who helped her realise her dream of being a ballerina. She eventually succeeded to become one, even appearing in Beyonce's Lemonade most recently.

Source: TRT World

Originally posted here:
7 books on the refugee experience every child should read - TRT World

Kaylee Greenlee

Texas will build its own border wall as migrants continue illegally entering the state,Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Abbott hosted a border security meeting with Texas law enforcement officials to discuss how they can combat illegal entry at the border,accordingto Abbott.

Abbott criticized the Biden administrations policies for causing an increase in illegal migration to the southern border.

I will announce next week the plan for the state of Texas to begin building the border wall in the state of Texas, Abbott said, the American-Statesman reported.

The Biden admin promised to end border wall construction, but continued seizing Texans land through April for new sections of the wall to be installed, the Daily Caller News Foundationreported.

President Bidens open-border policies have led to a humanitarian crisis at our southern border as record levels of illegal immigrants, drugs, and contraband pour into Texas, Abbott said in a statement.

The Biden administration threatened Tuesday to sue Abbott if the state follows through with plans to close federal facilities holding migrant minors operating in the state, the DCNFreported. The Biden administration argued Abbotts disaster declaration discriminates against the federal government by targeting facilities it contracts with.

While securing the border is the federal governments responsibility, Texas will not sit idly by as this crisis grows, Abbott added. The state is working collaboratively with communities impacted by the crisis to arrest and detain individuals coming into Texas illegally.

Customs and Border Protection officialsapprehendedover 180,000 migrants at the southern border in May,accordingto the agency. Nearly 51,000 of migrants apprehended in May were encountered along Texas Rio Grande Valley sector and another 40,000 were apprehended in the Laredo and Del Rio sectors.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contactlicensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

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Texas Will Build Its Own Border Wall In Response To Migrant Crisis, Governor Announces - News Talk Florida