Background Navigation

The information offered in "Background Navigation" shed light on the many instances in history that, over time, developed the notion of what it means or doesn't mean to be a refugee. The following article breaks down and defines terms associated with the word "refugee" in order to better understand the seek and need for protection. In the last article, the asylum process is broken down to give insight on the hardship and the terror that is endured in order to find safety. 

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Quick Facts on Syrian Refugee Crisis

March 11- peaceful protests

secular and islamic fighters and between ethnic groups civil war has killed over 250,000 people 

Basic necessities like food and medical care are sparse

Many Syrian refugees are living in Jordan and Lebenon

Thousands of Syrians flee their country every day

Za'atari- one of the country's largest cities 

Children not educated

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How Syria's Architecture laid the foundation for brutal war 

Marwa Al-Sabouni, a Syrian architect, speaks to the devastations of war in Syria as a result of insensitive architecture and urban planning, and how one might appropriately use architecture to restore a broken city and reestablish a sense of community. She begins by explaining that her home town of Homs in Syria was once a place of tolerance and variety of culture that lived harmoniously until French urban planning destroyed the streets and moved monuments in order to "improve" the city. This "improvement" of the city did just the opposite- communities began drifting apart from the urban fabric that used to unite them. As the shape of the built environment changed, so did the lifestyle of the communities- the ancient became worthless and the gap between the classes widened. As a result, the lost sense of belonging that set in, made it easier to destroy. Marwa continues by questioning what she can do as an architect to rebuild the city and revive the community. She explains that architecture has the power to suggest and even direct human activity and stresses that settlement identity and social integration are the producers and the products of effective urbanism. She ends with a thought of how she and other designers can learn to create an architecture that doesn't contribute only to the practical and economic aspects of people's lives, but to social, spiritual, and psychological needs in order to bring back a sense of community and make all feel at home.  

Source for images:"How Syria's Architecture Laid the Foundation for Brutal War." Marwa Al-Sabouni: How Syria's Architecture Laid the Foundation for Brutal War | TED Talk | TED.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2016.

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Uganda: A Widowed father's Troubles

The stories from these people reveal the great amount of loss that is endured- loss of safety, of homes, and of loved ones. In an attempt to escape violence, Gabriel and his family fled their home in South Sudan to find safety at a UN compound in Bor. An armed mob attacked the compound killing many, one of which was Gabriel's wife, and a mother of five. Gabriel and his children then fled to Uganda to seek refuge. He worries for the survival and education of his children. He ends by questioning why innocent people are killed. 

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Ancient City of Aleppo Reduced to Rubble

Caught amidst the Syrian war, the ancient city of Aleppo has become devastated. Not only have buildings been destroyed, but with that, a loss of community and culture. Once historic landmarks now stand as ruins, market places where craftsmen worked hard and sold goods have been reduced to rubble, and iconic citadels that were once a place of leisure are now recognized as makeshift military posts. The urban landscape has been virtually flattened leaving the celebrated ottoman architecture abandoned. The war in Syria is devastating its historic past and must be stopped in order to preserve its culture. 

Source for image: "Ancient City of Aleppo: Before and after - CNN Video." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 2016.

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Genocide- The Struggle for Justice in Guatemala

Induvina Hernandez begins by telling us that she was invisible growing up, and that it was the only reason why she survived the genocide in Guatemala. She went so many years invisible to become a survivor, and now she must tell the tale- the truth. She asks that the world not forget those who died, but also those who are still alive fighting for justice. All of her friends disappeared by the army, and her husband was killed in front of her. The new government started as a result of the struggle for democracy. The army separated the men, women, and children, killed the men, and raped and killed the women but not before forcing them to watch the death of their own children. In the 1990s, a peace agreement was signed and a commission for a historical clarification was set in place. Careful investigation took place in order to reveal the truth about what happened and who was responsible for the mass killing. The people of Guatemala were finally able to have justice after Jose, the man sought to be responsible, was convicted. The historical clarification and the conviction were necessary in order to educate the youth of their dark past in hope to prevent any future conflicts.

Source for image: TEDxTalks. "Genocide - The Struggle for Justice in Guatemala: Iduvina Hernandez at TEDxHagueAcademy." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Sept. 2013. Web. 2016.

 

One Family's Story from Dem. Republic of Congo

Clement and Aline Shabani from the Democratic Republic of Congo, begin by talking about the mistreatment of women, and their want for women to be strong and self-sufficient. They reiterate that it is important for women to speak up and not be quiet. They then note that Congo is a huge country, a country with many people and where many languages are spoken- this makes it hard to communicate with one another across their own country. They introduce the role of a woman as someone who is a necessity and major provider for the family, traveling long distances and carrying large loads to support their families. Due to this constant mistreatment of women, Clement and Aline took it upon themselves to seek the rights of the young women who were abused and violated, but the government wouldn't support their cause and threatened them to stop advocating for the abused. After they were threatened, the government broke into their house and took whatever they wanted. When Clement and his wife went to the governor to report that the soldiers had broken into their home, they were again threatened. The following day the army went back to their house, but this time tied Clement to a chair in front of his children and made him watch as they raped and abused his wife. It was at this moment that Clement and his wife decided that they needed to leave Congo. They left on foot, traveling by night to avoid the army. After three nights of suffering, they found a way across the lake into Rwanda and then to Uganda where they stayed illegally for a month while his wife was recovering. Clement and his family were able to get tourist visas to go to Thailand while they figured out their next move. Once in Bangkok, they went to amnesty international to apply for an interview with the U.N. in an attempt to gain refugee status. It took five years in Thailand, living illegally, until they were granted refugee status and were able to go to the U.S.. Clement's final message to his audience was that there is no right and no justice in Congo, and that it is awful to remember what they went through in their life.

Source for image: "RP Witness." Out of the Congo | RP Witness. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2016.

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Rape as a weapon of war in Congo

A fifty eight year-old woman by the name of Georgina was attacked and raped by soldiers while gathering firewood. When she returned to her village to tell her husband, he could't bear the news, and decided to leave her- men are mocked when their wives are raped so as a means to avoid embarrassment, they leave them. Not only is it humiliating for both, but also dangerous and unsanitary if the woman has contracted HIV or other harmful infections. After this mistreatment and abuse, the women learn to work and talk about their problems and terrifying experience. Going to the government is not an option because the courts are so corrupt and refuse to take action on matters of "abused women." As a result, the women suffer inside because they know that their lives can never be as they once were.