Refugees and migrants need protection

The distressing pictures of the young Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, who drowned with his mother and his older brother was finally laid to rest today in his home town of Koban. His father Abdullah Kurdi the only survivor from this tragedy returned home to bury his family in Syria.   As a result of what has happened to Mr Kurdi his only wish is to be buried alongside his family.

What started out as a family fleeing a war torn country ended in tragedy when the overcrowded boat they were travelling in capsized. Mr Kurdi tried to save his family from the big waves but sadly watched them pass away before his very eyes. It was only after Mr Kurdi lost everything that the Canadian government came forward and offered him citizenship which he declined.

Lately it seems tragedies such as these are the only way to force people to sit up and take notice. The situation in Calais and Hungary is not so different to what happened to the Kurdi family. It has to be said people who leave war torn countries to come to Europe do so for safety and protection. They do not come to the West because it’s a good life or they are trying to jump the immigration queue. It seems there will always be a few cynical, twisted individuals who want to make every immigrant out to be parasites. For the majority of us we will see these people are suffering and acknowledge them as human beings.

Thankfully, lesson have been learnt in the wake of Aylan’s tragedy. There has been such a great response from the people of Europe it replaces one faith in humanity again. In Iceland alone 12,000 people have offered to take refugees. Germany has also taken 800,000 refugees and will take more from Syria. Sadly, the British government has been slow in responding to the situation but hundreds of Britons are calling on the government to take in more refugees and some are offering their homes. A number of petitions have also been signed to get the British government to do more.

Charities like The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCCR), Refugee Action, Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, World Vision, Doctors of the world, (just a few mentioned) who are on the ground in Calais and Hungary are looking for volunteers to collect on their behalf.

Amazon wish list has also been set up for people to buy specific items such as shoes and sleeping bags to be delivered to Calais in the coming weeks. Getting in touch with these grassroots groups you will be helping the refugee situation. Currently, there are roughly 32 countries involved with migrant fundraising efforts.

Finally, I appreciate how lucky I am to have been born in the UK and that my children are growing up safe here too. We all have a responsibility not to be ignorant of those in need. To be given a chance to help others is a chance to engage with our own humanity. Please let’s not forget that and make change today.
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