The American Mindset and the Reality about Refugees

“They’re all animals.”

“Don’t trust any of those f—ers.”

“Syrians are a bunch of dogs.”

These are all things people told me before I left for Greece. These comments point to a greater American mindset and the fear that has crept into every aspect of life at home. Americans think that the refugee crisis is a cover for ISIS to infiltrate the U.S. and attack us. They think that people from the middle east are barbarians and animals. They think these people are our enemies. Yesterday, I saw a Facebook commenter call for the extermination of every person from the middle east. I don’t know where these views came from, or how they have become so pervasive, but they are ridiculous.

As of writing, I’ve spent three days in refugee camps here in Greece. Two of those days have been in Malakasa, an Afghani camp north of Athens. One of those days I spent in Ritsona, a Syrian camp north of Malakasa. My experience with those in the camps does not line up with the American narrative.

Those who fear these people may say that I haven’t spent enough time with the refugees to really know how they are. They may claim I am naive about the world. Let me tell you, it doesn’t take more than five minutes for someone with a heart to see that the refugees are human beings. They are not animals. They are not barbarians. They are people. People who are fleeing war that has torn their countries apart. People who are fleeing persecution at home.

I want to be clear. I am not writing this to inspire pity from you. I don’t want to make you feel guilty. The refugees are strong people. They have to be in order to survive the journey to Greece. But they are people who need help. They are people seeking freedom.

Let me give you an overview of my experience thus far.

I had no idea what to expect walking into Malakasa. I didn’t know what the condition of the camp would be. I didn’t know what condition the people would be in. All I knew was it was an Afghani camp of about 1000 people. The Afghans were housed in tents. To me, they seemed smaller versions of military tents. Although, many people live in standard camping tents as well. Facilities are very limited at Malakasa. There are port-a-potties, port-a-showers, a small medical building (with no doctor on staff), and one midsized building filled with camping tents that has electricity. It is worth noting that the red cross has been kicked out of Malakasa by the camp manager. Why? Because they had the only office with air conditioning and the camp manager wanted it.

The people at Malakasa have very little recreation. They are able to play futbol occasionally, when volunteers bring balls. They have a handful of playing cards, and one chess set. Many of the young men have cell phones that they use to keep in touch with family at home, in Germany, and in other camps. I had the pleasure of playing chess against a man about my age named Rafi. He beat me easily. Then he beat another volunteer easily. The third volunteer was more difficult to beat, but Rafi beat him as well. In Afghanistan, Rafi was studying music. As a hobby, Rafi was a singer. He had a life in Afghanistan that he had to leave because an inter-familial quarrel made life dangerous for him and his family. So they left, seeking peace in a foreign land.

Dustin, the volunteer Rafi had trouble beating at chess, asked Rafi what he would want us to communicate to the people at home. Here is a paraphrased list from Rafi and other Afghans who were with us at the time:

• It is difficult to have so much uncertainty of the future. As of now, the refugees have no idea when they will be able to leave the camps.
• There was curiosity as to why the U.S. allowed the power vacuum that allowed the Taliban to regain power in Afghanistan.
• People in the camps have a lot of talent. Their talents vary and are in the arts, in sports, or in trades, but they have no way to use those skills in the camp.
• Being stuck in the camps for 6+ months with absolutely nothing to do has led to depression for many people.
• They want to know why the Afghani camp does not have the facilities other refugee camps have.

From what I gathered at Malakasa, these are people escaping oppression and danger at home. They are seeking a better life for their families. They want to provide for their families. They want to get out of the camps and work. They want the ability to express themselves. They are human beings. They want what we are all after: some version of the “American” Dream.

The camp at Ritsona was very different from the camp at Malakasa. The infrastructure was much more established at Ritsona. There were medical facilities with doctors, an area for children to play (with activity times for different age groups), a school for the children, a small mosque, and an area for nursing mothers to go when they need peace and quiet. Something else that drastically changed the geography of Ritsona when compared to Malakasa was the presence of trees. People there were able to use the trees as anchor points for additional structures. The “feel” of Ritsona was much better than Malakasa. However, that doesn’t mean all is well at Ritsona.

One of the largest problems at Ritsona, as far as I gathered, is food distribution. In the past, there have been food riots at Ritsona, due to the lack of food. Now, food is only given out every two to three days.While the food schedule is more regular now than it has been in the past, there is still a high degree of food insecurity. We spoke to one man who was unable to get food for ten days prior to our visit.  It is not uncommon for the food that is given out to be old, or otherwise spoiled. This has led to people getting sick frequently, especially the children.

Other problems exist at both Ritsona and Malakasa. For instance, the tents are not entirely weather-proof. If there is rain or snow, water seeps into the tents. Additionally, depression is very common in both camps. But more worrying than this, is a problem explained to us that we’ve deemed “trickle down aid”. Greece is in a financial crisis. This is not a secret. It makes it difficult for Greece to handle the tens of thousands of refugees on their own. So other countries and people give money to Greece in order to help the refugees. However, the amount of money that actually reaches the refugees as it “trickles down” through the bureaucracy is only a fraction of what is given. The refugee crisis in Greece is not a pretty picture.

I’d like to tell you about Nidhal. Shortly after we arrived at Ritsona, we said hello to Nidhal as we walked by his tent and he beckoned us over. We went over to him, and he asked us to sit, so we sat down on some chairs he had made outside his tent. He immediately offered us tea, and shortly after  his wife brought out a plate of cookies (similar to oreos) for us. I was blown away by their hospitality. We talked to Nidhal for three hours or so through his broken english, our very limited arabic, and a lot of google translate. Here is his story, as I understood it.

Nidhal worked as a carpenter in Damascus, Syria. Once the civil war broke out, things started to get really bad, and the police became more corrupt than ever. The police arrested Nidhal’s brother, and demanded money in return for his release. So Nidhal paid the police. Again, they demanded money for the release of his brother. Again Nidhal paid. Again, the police demanded money. During this time, work was drying up for Nidhal. Between the extortion and lack of work, Nidhal decided his best chance was to leave Syria. So he left and took his family with him. He traveled to Turkey, via Lebanon, to find work. For ten months he stayed in Turkey to work, so he could provide for his family. Again, the work dried up, and the Turks have no love for the refugees. So he left Turkey and went to Greece. To do so, he had to travel between the two countries on a small raft. A small raft overloaded with thirty people. Many people die on this journey, but Nidhal and his family endured. So here they are, in a refugee camp in Ritsona.

Nidhal stands in stark contrast to the narrative I hear at home. Pundits claim that refugees are leaving their countries, and invading ours, to live forever. Nidhal wants to return to Syria when the war is over. It is his home, but it is too dangerous for him and his family right now. I constantly hear that refugees only want the free stuff host nations are offering. Nidhal does not want to go anywhere for any free services. He wants to go to whatever country has work for him. He wants nothing more than to work to provide for his family. These are not the only narratives Nidhal shattered for me. While we sat talking, he stopped many times to help his children with something, and to show them love. He once stopped talking for a few minutes to help his son color in a picture-book a volunteer had given him. Another time, he stopped to help his daughter with her school work. This is not the image of a middle eastern man that I am shown at home.

In case I have’t been clear in my writing, this is what I want to tell you:

What we are told at home about the refugees is not true. They are not animals or barbarians or terrorists. They are people. Human beings in need. As such, they deserve our compassion, our love, and our support. I know its hard to show this topic any attention because of everything going on at home with the election, police/blm, and such.

Please understand, the refugee crisis is not over, and there is much work left to be done.