Refugee Realities
34 million people around the world today have been displaced by war and conflict. Each year over 500,000 people are killed in war, the livelihoods of many more are destroyed, and families are torn apart. Often they are left with no choice but to live in camps, which are usually unplanned and occupied by thousands of people.
Camps are not comfortable places: limited access to latrines means diarrhoea and waterborne diseases such as cholera can spread. Water facilities might not exist and, once they are installed, can quickly become run down. Food rations do not always arrive on time, and are often not enough.
While governments and international aid agencies provide some support, there are rarely enough supplies to go around. For most, this is only the beginning. Refugees and internally displaced people will often attempt to find a safe place to live, either in their own country or in another country, such as Australia. This process can take years. On average refugees live in “temporary” camps for 17 years.
Only a small fraction of the worlds refugees are afforded protection on Australian shores, and often the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in this country only adds to the trauma they have already faced.
As millions of people are thrown into humanitarian crisis every year, it is crucial that the wider community has a greater understanding of the harsh experiences refugees and internally displaced peoples must go through, just to survive. It is also essential for the broader public to understand the rights of displaced peoples in crisis situations, so that we may demand that these rights are upheld. That’s why Oxfam Australia is recreating a refugee experience through Refugee Realities.
To find out more or to get involved contact refugeerealities@oxfam.org.au.
