Almost every day there are people in the world who have to leave their homes and go into another country. They leave their own countries because of war, their religion, or their skin color. They may be forced to leave their country or they may leave on their own in fear. These people are called refugees.  Today there are over 14 million men, women, and children who have been forced to leave their home because they are afraid to stay.

Fortunately, refugees are protected under international law and are given special rights, such as the right to safe asylum. Most refugees go to live in refugee camps in other countries, usually close to the border of their own country. Some (not many) are luckier and are offered a place in someone's home. In camps, the refugees may get some of the services they need but conditions are still very hard. A lot of people have to live in small huts made of wood and plastic sheeting or sometimes tents. The camps provide food and water for the refugees but it seems there is never enough. The refugee camps try to offer medical care but so many of the refugees are sick and underfed when they come and there are so many of them, it's hard to help them all. Sometimes school is provided for the children in the camps but there are never enough teachers or supplies for all the children. And the language is different in a new country. This makes it hard for even the adult refugees to get a job to support their families. Mostly refugees have to depend on what the refugee camp gives them to live until they can go back home.

Where do refugees come from? There are refugees from all over the world. The first refugees in America were the Pilgrims. They came to America from England so they could practice their religion. Today, most of all the world's refugees come from three places: Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Asia has more refugees than any other continent followed by Africa  and Europe.  More than a million refugees go to live in Pakistan and Iran. Germany also has almost a million refugees living there.

Most refugees want to go home. Some are not allowed back in their country and some are just afraid. They might not be able to return home because they don't have the money to travel home when it's safe again - if it's ever safe. Some might just be too sick to return. A lot of refugees are afraid to go back to bad governments.  Many refugees are resettled in different countries.

There are a lot of refugees out there. It can happen to anyone. But you can help it. There may be programs out there where you can donate money. So help them, they need  it.

Citations

Magazines:

Gevert, Catherine. "Refugees Who, Where, and Why." Faces People, Places, and Cultures.  September, 2002: pp 8-13.

O'Meara, Donna. "World Refugee Camps." Faces People, Places, and Cultures.  September, 2002: pp. 6-7.

Scholtes, Christine. "Internally Displaced Persons" Faces People, Places, and Cultures.  September, 2002: pp 14-17.

Images:

Images of tent, earth with people and compass  from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (October-February, 2003-2004). 

Glossary

refugee: People who are forced to leave their home because of their race, religion, nationality, politics, or membership in a special social group.  A refugee either cannot return to their home or they are afraid to return home.     Return

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