#IBELONG
#Statelessness
#HumanitarianCrisis
#Refugees
Dear
Friends and Family,
The
thought of being stateless is a foreign concept to most of us. The grim reality
is that the many conflicts abroad, including Syria , Iraq , Iran , the Congo , Nigeria , Libya and beyond have rendered countless
individuals stateless.
Under
these harsh conditions, refugees are displaced to other countries. They do not
leave their homes willingly. But, in doing so, they hope for a future, only to
discover that the options for creating a new home and likelihood are limited.
Most
of those affected are single mothers coming from countries where women have
generally not been afforded employment opportunities. Thus, they have no job
skills to support their children even if such jobs were available.
The
incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder amongst refugees is high but, the
likelihood of mental health treatment, at least as we know it in the West, is
almost nonexistent. As a result, there is correlatively higher suicide rate.
In
their hearts, the only thing they want, need and desire is to return to their
homeland, where the customs and culture are familiar.
As
a collective humanity, we need to support the relief effort by the NGOs, such
as the Carter Center , as well as United Nations' various
subgroups such as the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, the United Nations Development
Programmer (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commission of Rights (UNHCR).
"Statelessness"
also occurs in North and South
America as
a result of the mounting illegal immigrant crisis, which the Obama
Administration has repeatedly promised to address. This presents an
entirely different set of needs by those about whom the assumption appears to
be that they have voluntarily chosen to leave a homeland conducive to their
well-being. This is facially inaccurate. I cannot imagine the emotional
stressors involved in making the decision to pursue the route of an illegal
alien. Again, the data reflects that there is a high incidence a Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide.
Thank
you for the privilege of allowing me to express my personal
sentiments.
Love,
Light and an Abundance of Heartfelt Gratitude,
Cynthia
Lardner
#ImaginePeace
#OneOhana
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