Together We Heal, Learn and Shine

Every year on June 20, the world commemorates the courage of refugees and honour their resilience. World Refugee Day provides the annual reflection to the unprecedented scale of the global refugee crisis, with over 79.5 million people displaced worldwide, majority of whom are women and children. On this day, we also recognize host communities that welcome refugees and offer them shelter and assistance, in the true spirit of compassion, humanity and shared values. The Government and the people of India have championed these values, having hosted millions of refugees and asylum seekers for decades in the true spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – ‘the world is one family”. A philosophy that we must all hold on to tightly as we continue to respond, adapt and make sense of current world events.

A year ago, we struggled with a global crisis of an entirely new magnitude. COVID-19 was not just a one-off health crisis. It altered our lives and the world as we know it. As it continues to traverse the world, more and more people have perished, millions continue to suffer, and many more are unable to provide for basic needs. Refugees and forced displaced persons equally impacted as they struggle to cope with multiple vulnerabilities and have to find courage and resilience to carry on. We have seen how countries and communities around the world, including India, have included refugees in their national health responses. Local Indian NGOs, government bodies, individuals, the UN family, local community groups – everyone came together to help each other survive. However, as we move beyond emergency response to ensure stabilization and longer-term recovery, we must ensure that our response remains inclusive and accessible. One that responds to and protects the needs, safety, well-being and dignity of the most vulnerable. In this way, we can prevent an even greater setback to shared long-term progress. But this is not the responsibility of one nation alone – for whilst the world creates refugees, it must also mobilize the means to assist them, to alleviate hardship and to save lives.

This brings me to reflection I had not too long ago. I thought of the people of India, and a “togetherness” with each other. One of bonding, hope, strength, of coming together – each wanting to do something to ease the suffering of another in these difficult times – of including the other. Bonding to offer succor to the sick, food to the hungry and shelter to those who have none. It surpasses status, creed or borders. The people of India recognise this bond, the need to include, and they will always have our hearts for continuing to support refugees and asylum seekers before and also throughout the pandemic, offering safety and assistance, however big or small.

Refugees also contributed to their fellow Indian friends, neighbours and communities in significant ways. Sewing masks for distribution to varied host and refugee communities, cooking food for their infirmed local Indian neighbours and distributing medicines and PPE kits. Some even helped serve as front-liner community workers such as our Afghan refugee friend, Ms. Qadiry, whose story of solidarity with the people of India will melt your heart. I will let her tell you of her inspirational story. A story that reminded us of the importance of holding on to the true spirit of the world being one family, of the reflection I had on “togetherness”. Without which, we will not be able to overcome – to heal, learn and shine, we must stand together.

“At the peak of the pandemic, when there were fewer hospital beds available and medical treatment became difficult, I saw many people in my neighbourhood needing help. Many were alone, without any family members to support. Their suffering was overwhelming. I felt I needed to do something. As a nurse who got the opportunity to complete her education in India, I had the chance to create change and most importantly, I had the will to help the people of India who have given me so much when I came here seeking safety. India gave me a safe place, assisted me, the people became my friends in times of need and when they need me now, I am there in solidarity. With the little we had, my mother and I conducted in-house treatment for my Indian neighbours who were sick and fellow Afghan friends who had no one to care for them.. I even travelled over 30 kilometers to our Afghan refugee houses to check on them.. Many were scared, braving the virus alone, and they needed compassion, comfort, and a listening ear. It wasn’t easy. Many were crying – one of my local Indian neighbours, she held my hand and kept thanking me for being there for her as she had no one. Many people want to know what will happen to them, when the virus will be over, when will a solution be found so that children can go back to school, and lives can be restored. I had no answers to most of these questions as I know the world will never be the same again. I could only extend kindness by doing my best to serve people in need and by giving back to those who have helped me when I was in need. I gave hope. In all this, I learnt that in times of crisis, I may not have much, but we can rely on each other if we stand together in order to heal, learn and shine.”

These are the words of 25-year-old Ms. Qadiry, a refugee nurse in New Delhi, who took it upon herself to care for her neighours and persons who needed help during the pandemic. Over the past year, she and her mother have helped over 25 persons.

— A joint blog by Oscar Mundia, Chief of Mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in India and five refugees in India: Thomas Berhane, teacher; Than Dar Aung, student and DAFI scholar;  Ja Noi, creche worker; Rahmatullah Habib, musician; and Marwa Qadiry, a frontline nurse.