ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – It is the worst humanitarian disaster in recent history and has caused over a third of the population to flee the country or be internally displaced: Since the conflict began in Syria more than three years ago, 2.5 million people have sought refuge in neighboring countries - the largest movement of refugees the world has seen since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Over 219,000 Syrian refugees have fled to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where they are living in urban areas or one of nine refugee camps. With no end to the conflict in sight, many camps have become more permanent, making integration into host communities, and unity with their new neighbors, increasingly important. Though their hearts may still be in Syria, until their country once again knows peace, for now, this is home.
As a demonstration of solidarity for the plight of Syrian refugees, Rise Foundation, in coordination with diaspora Kurds Silav Ibrahim and Kavout Mahy, is next month coordinating a two-day sponsored walk between Akre and the Basirma Syrian refugee camps on May 2 and 3.
Ibrahim and Mahy both approached Rise with the idea of a walk to generate money and awareness, says Tom Badham-Thornhill, a project coordinator with the organization.
“The walk is about harmonizing and sharing. Walking is a great way to connect with the people and the environment around you,” Badham-Thornhill adds. “We want to walk together, share experiences and help solidarity take root between people. As the number of refugees in the Kurdistan Region grows, it is vital for them to become a part of Kurdistan rather than to be isolated. Isolation can only lead to disconnection and segregation.”
Ibrahim also notes the importance of bringing people together to connect: “The Syrian conflict, unfortunately, is becoming less and less of a concern and turning into old news. Meanwhile, the suffering of the Syrians continues. We want to bring people together so that they can walk in the shoes of the suffered, while also giving the refugees the opportunity to share their experiences.”
Mahy stresses that, “It’s all about human connection -- to understand the struggles of the refugees and allow their voices to continue being heard.”
The walk will begin in Akre and end approximately 50 kilometers away in Basirma. Participants will include local Kurds, Syrian refugees and expatriates.
Jasper Hadman, another project coordinator with Rise, points out that in addition to connecting people and highlighting the issues that Syrian refugees continue to face, the walk is a great opportunity to raise money for youth and children who were forced to flee their homes, losing a part of their childhood that they will never get back.
Rise is requesting that participants raise as much money as they can in support of the walk, which will be put towards recreational facilities for children in the Basirma camp.
Not only does the relative isolation of Basirma -- compared to other refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region -- make it more challenging for NGOs to access the camp, it also makes it more difficult for the residents to find jobs.
Hadman notes that, unlike the more accessible camps where the constant flow of people creates a more dynamic environment and local economies have grown up out of the shops lining the narrow, dusty roads, in Basirma the isolation has stemmed the flow of people. There are no shops, no local economy and the atmosphere is stagnant.
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For more information: http://rise-foundation.org/causes/a-day-in-their-shoes/
