I think about you every day.<\/p>\n
I do not know what it feels like to be forced from my home. I won\u2019t pretend to know; I will probably never fully understand. I\u2019ve never contemplated what I would take with me. I can\u2019t imagine the anguish of losing a child.<\/p>\n
The best I can do right now is recognize my inability to empathize. I\u2019m not na\u00efve. As a middle-aged white male in the United States, I am privileged.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re a product of the decisions we make every day and, thankfully, I\u2019ve never had to choose between fleeing and fighting. For many, flight is fight.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been to Ramallah. I\u2019ve been to Akkar. I\u2019ve been to Cox\u2019s Bazar. I\u2019ve been to Krakow and to Kathmandu. From Stung Meanchey to Bourj el-Barajneh, I\u2019ve seen a few things. I still don\u2019t know what to do. But I will keep trying.<\/p>\n
I have lost people I love. And most days I feel uncertain about tomorrow. But right now, thankfully, I have a roof over my head.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve seen people come together to help one another during hard times. It inspires me.<\/p>\n
It saddens me to write this for\u00a0World Refugee Day<\/a>. One single solitary day where we recognize the struggle that confronts too many \u2013\u00a0every\u00a0<\/em>day. Today, you\u2019ll read a lot of\u00a0statistics<\/a>. Statistics are important, but they can\u2019t shake your hand and look you in the eye.<\/p>\n I am listening. I\u2019ll do everything I can to amplify what I hear. We will do better. We must do more.<\/p>\n Your kids should never have to sacrifice their education for survival.<\/p>\n We\u2019re all unique. We\u2019re all different. Often, I feel like it\u2019s the only thing we can agree on. But we all have the same basic needs. We need a safe place to sleep so we can rest easy. Opportunity. Access to information and education. The peace of mind that comes with knowing where the nearest hospital is and that you\u2019ll be treated there. We need respect. We need to respect ourselves and each other.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget. The headlines fade, but the need remains. Clich\u00e9, I know. Our collective focus shifts constantly. And while our attention is pulled in different directions, a mom and dad sit in a tent settlement in northern Lebanon wondering how they\u2019ll get the kids through this.<\/p>\n So, what do we do?<\/p>\n Talk about it. Leverage every tool and resource available. Navigate the politics. We can do better. Let\u2019s get creative. Let\u2019s get organized. Let\u2019s commit to never giving up.<\/p>\n Joseph Harrison is a member of the\u00a0Cisco Crisis Response (CCR) team<\/a>. The team has long focused on helping vulnerable populations \u2013 those unhoused or displaced by conflict and natural disasters \u2013 meet their critical needs.<\/em><\/p>\n CCR partners with organizations that are doing incredible work on the ground, including the\u00a0United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)<\/a>, the\u00a0International Rescue Committee (IRC)<\/a>, the\u00a0Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)<\/a>, and the\u00a0Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society\u00a0(HIAS)<\/a>. If you are financially able to do so, please consider donating to these organizations.<\/em><\/p>\n
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