A refugee as defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.
As a result of this instability, imparting the virtues of hope demands huge emotional and financial investment. While it is increasingly difficult to disassociate the mind and personality from the tag of being a refugee, the good news is, some have succeeded in changing their narrative – the reason for the article. While for some others, mental fortitude and resilience are lacking.
According to the legendary war correspondent, Martha Gellhorn, “It is amazing that the refugees stay sane. First the bombs, perhaps the ‘battle’ around them, their casualties, their naked helplessness; then the flight, leaving behind everything they have worked for all their lives; then the semi-starvation and ugly hardship of the camps or the slums; and as a final cruelty, the killing diseases which only strike at them.”
This sparks a genuine debate, perhaps refugees have the strongest minds the world has ever seen?
What are the latest refugee statistics?
According to UNHCR, the world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from home by conflict and persecution at the end of 2016. Among them are nearly 22.5 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also 10 million stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
Syria and South Sudan have the largest number of the world’s refugees as a result of the war.
In 2016, the disastrous break-off of peace efforts in July in South Sudan contributed to an outflow of 737,400 people by the end of the year. That number has continued to rise during the first half of 2017.
Here are some of global icons who have been refugees but found their way out of this ugly menace.
What are you willing to endure in the name of love? A Florida mother decided…
Tracy McBride’s dream came true when she finally arrived as a contestant for the Wheel…
Chris Brown is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer. He made his career debut…
Following the success of his 2008 single "Can't Believe It," in which he memorably rhymed…
The Atlanta City Council has reached a $3.8 million settlement with the family of a…
Actress and model Daphne Joy has been slapped with a defamation lawsuit by her ex-boyfriend…
Authorities in Canada said a man identified as Drake’s security guard was left seriously injured…
A physical education teacher, Alfred Kattola, owes his life to the quick thinking of two…
An 11-year-old girl, Tia Gordon, has endured misdiagnoses of sickness bugs and migraines by medics…
Serena Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players to grace the court. In…
At the age of sixteen, LeAnna Roberts made headlines when she graduated from the University…
Will.i.am is a musician, producer, technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Born Williams Adams, the musician turned…
Ohemaa Nyanin has been named the general manager of the WNBA Golden State team. Nyanin,…
Meet Allen Onyema; he is the founder of Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace. The Nigerian…
Alicia Keys has reached a new milestone with her musical "Hell's Kitchen" as it has…