The Importance of Understanding Refugees

By Qing Yan Tan

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines a refugee as "someone who has been forced to flee their country because of persecution, war, or violence... [and are unable to] return home or are afraid to do so." Refugees come from diverse countries, ranging from Venezuela to Ethiopia, and bring with them a variety of backgrounds, races, and cultures. They often undertake a perilous journey to a host country in the hope of finding acceptance and the opportunity to build a better life. A host country, such as Canada, is a state that accepts refugees and provides safety and protection from the dangerous environment that they left behind. In 2023 alone, Canada warmly welcomed over 30,082 refugees, demonstrating its commitment to offering a fresh start to those in need. Despite reaching Canada, which is a significant achievement in itself, refugees continue to encounter challenges. These difficulties manifest as language barriers, discrimination, a sense of isolation from their community, financial hardships, lack of support, etc. While Canada offers safety, it is crucial to recognize that refugees still require further support to facilitate their transition to living in a new environment. Imagine moving to Spain without understanding the language and culture with no help and support system. Wouldn't that be daunting? This is why it is important to provide assistance in any way possible to ensure their integration is as seamless as can be. So how can you and I help to tackle such as large problem? Well, a meaningful starting point is to educate ourselves like reading this blog! By familiarizing ourselves with their experiences and struggles, we can cultivate a more empathetic and inclusive environment which can lead to more proactive solutions such as advocating and providing mental health support or language and vocational programs.

References

Works Cited “Emergencies.” UNHCR Canada, 2 Jan. 2024, www.unhcr.ca/our-work/emergencies/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.

“Global Refugee Statistics.” UNHCR Canada, 2 Jan. 2024, www.unhcr.ca/in-canada/refugee-statistics/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.

“Refugees in Canada.” UNHCR Canada, 2 Jan. 2024, www.unhcr.ca/in-canada/refugees-in-canada/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.

Setareh Ghahari, et al. “The Life Experiences of Refugees in Canada: A Comprehensive Scoping Review to Identify Unmet Needs and Barriers.” Journal of International Migration and Integration, vol. 21, no. 4, 10 Nov. 2019, pp. 1249–1261, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12134-019-00727-3, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-019-00727-3. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.