so I’m here to talk about a way forward for refugees it’s a huge issue right now
for refugees it’s a huge issue right now
for refugees it’s a huge issue right now politically and also just as a
politically and also just as a
politically and also just as a humanitarian issue first I just want to
humanitarian issue first I just want to
humanitarian issue first I just want to quickly talk about the scale of the prop
quickly talk about the scale of the prop
quickly talk about the scale of the prop of the problem not give you a lot of
of the problem not give you a lot of
of the problem not give you a lot of numbers but I think we just have to kind
numbers but I think we just have to kind
numbers but I think we just have to kind of define it 65 million people displaced
of define it 65 million people displaced
of define it 65 million people displaced around the world that’s about the
around the world that’s about the
around the world that’s about the population of the UK it’s the largest
population of the UK it’s the largest
population of the UK it’s the largest number ever in recorded history so more
number ever in recorded history so more
number ever in recorded history so more than after World War two 20 million of
than after World War two 20 million of
than after World War two 20 million of those people more than 20 million are
those people more than 20 million are
those people more than 20 million are refugees which means they’ve actually
refugees which means they’ve actually
refugees which means they’ve actually fled their country because of forced
fled their country because of forced
fled their country because of forced displacement so it’s because of war and
displacement so it’s because of war and
displacement so it’s because of war and persecution that’s why they left about
persecution that’s why they left about
persecution that’s why they left about 40 million or more than 40 million are
40 million or more than 40 million are
40 million or more than 40 million are displaced for those same reasons but
displaced for those same reasons but
displaced for those same reasons but haven’t crossed an international border
haven’t crossed an international border
haven’t crossed an international border so 65 million displaced it’s a huge
so 65 million displaced it’s a huge
so 65 million displaced it’s a huge number often refugees are defined by
number often refugees are defined by
number often refugees are defined by what they’ve lost which is a lot their
what they’ve lost which is a lot their
what they’ve lost which is a lot their homes their communities their jobs their
homes their communities their jobs their
homes their communities their jobs their friends in many cases family members but
friends in many cases family members but
friends in many cases family members but I think it’s also important to remember
I think it’s also important to remember
I think it’s also important to remember that they that it’s a mistake just to
that they that it’s a mistake just to
that they that it’s a mistake just to think about refugees that way because
think about refugees that way because
think about refugees that way because they’re just people so they also have a
they’re just people so they also have a
they’re just people so they also have a lot of things they have hope you
lot of things they have hope you
lot of things they have hope you wouldn’t get up and leave your house
wouldn’t get up and leave your house
wouldn’t get up and leave your house leave everything behind and run if you
leave everything behind and run if you
leave everything behind and run if you didn’t have hope for a better future
didn’t have hope for a better future
didn’t have hope for a better future they also many times have education
they also many times have education
they also many times have education particularly in some of the most recent
particularly in some of the most recent
particularly in some of the most recent crises like Syria businesspeople doctors
crises like Syria businesspeople doctors
crises like Syria businesspeople doctors other professionals many are also
other professionals many are also
other professionals many are also laborers and farmers so they have skills
laborers and farmers so they have skills
laborers and farmers so they have skills they have you know they have a
they have you know they have a
they have you know they have a willingness to work so and they also
willingness to work so and they also
willingness to work so and they also have a great desire to live in peace
have a great desire to live in peace
have a great desire to live in peace nobody who flees conflict wants to go
nobody who flees conflict wants to go
nobody who flees conflict wants to go and live in more conflict so these are
and live in more conflict so these are
and live in more conflict so these are all things that refugees actually bring
all things that refugees actually bring
all things that refugees actually bring to communities after they flee where are
to communities after they flee where are
to communities after they flee where are they from 40 percent from Syria it’s in
they from 40 percent from Syria it’s in
they from 40 percent from Syria it’s in the news but I didn’t want to just talk
the news but I didn’t want to just talk
the news but I didn’t want to just talk about Syria because so many are from
about Syria because so many are from
about Syria because so many are from other places the big three countries are
other places the big three countries are
other places the big three countries are Afghanistan Syria and it’s Somalia but
Afghanistan Syria and it’s Somalia but
Afghanistan Syria and it’s Somalia but refugees are fleeing in all parts of the
refugees are fleeing in all parts of the
refugees are fleeing in all parts of the world so Congo Iraq Burma the northern
world so Congo Iraq Burma the northern
world so Congo Iraq Burma the northern triangle of Central America which is
triangle of Central America which is
triangle of Central America which is Guatemala else
Guatemala else
Guatemala else salvador honduras so that right in our
salvador honduras so that right in our
salvador honduras so that right in our backyard from all over and where are
backyard from all over and where are
backyard from all over and where are they now well we all see in the news
they now well we all see in the news
they now well we all see in the news that there are you know over a million
that there are you know over a million
that there are you know over a million in europe but that’s really what made us
in europe but that’s really what made us
in europe but that’s really what made us aware of the refugee crisis but it’s
aware of the refugee crisis but it’s
aware of the refugee crisis but it’s been going on for a much longer time
been going on for a much longer time
been going on for a much longer time there are millions of refugees in other
there are millions of refugees in other
there are millions of refugees in other places that are hosted by much poorer
places that are hosted by much poorer
places that are hosted by much poorer parts of the world Turkey Lebanon Jordan
parts of the world Turkey Lebanon Jordan
parts of the world Turkey Lebanon Jordan Kenya Ethiopia Mexico so refugees are
Kenya Ethiopia Mexico so refugees are
Kenya Ethiopia Mexico so refugees are everywhere and this is was kind of a
everywhere and this is was kind of a
everywhere and this is was kind of a more of a hidden crisis or something
more of a hidden crisis or something
more of a hidden crisis or something that we didn’t pay a lot of attention to
that we didn’t pay a lot of attention to
that we didn’t pay a lot of attention to until we saw refugees coming into Europe
until we saw refugees coming into Europe
until we saw refugees coming into Europe and all of a sudden you know everyone
and all of a sudden you know everyone
and all of a sudden you know everyone said this is a crisis so keep that in
said this is a crisis so keep that in
said this is a crisis so keep that in mind by the way these are some pictures
mind by the way these are some pictures
mind by the way these are some pictures that are taken by some of my colleagues
that are taken by some of my colleagues
that are taken by some of my colleagues at highest some of the refugees that we
at highest some of the refugees that we
at highest some of the refugees that we serve around the world so what’s next
serve around the world so what’s next
serve around the world so what’s next for refugees well there are three things
for refugees well there are three things
for refugees well there are three things that typically happen for refugees
that typically happen for refugees
that typically happen for refugees they’re called the durable solutions and
they’re called the durable solutions and
they’re called the durable solutions and this is an international legal term but
this is an international legal term but
this is an international legal term but they’re very basic and they make sense
they’re very basic and they make sense
they’re very basic and they make sense what are the three durable solutions one
what are the three durable solutions one
what are the three durable solutions one is return voluntary return they go home
is return voluntary return they go home
is return voluntary return they go home well that’s not really an option for
well that’s not really an option for
well that’s not really an option for most refugees anymore
most refugees anymore
most refugees anymore the scale of the crisis is so huge and
the scale of the crisis is so huge and
the scale of the crisis is so huge and the violence is so pervasive that it’s
the violence is so pervasive that it’s
the violence is so pervasive that it’s very difficult for people to go home
very difficult for people to go home
very difficult for people to go home because there’s just no place safe so
because there’s just no place safe so
because there’s just no place safe so just to give you an example last year
just to give you an example last year
just to give you an example last year 200,000 refugees went home that’s out of
200,000 refugees went home that’s out of
200,000 refugees went home that’s out of 20 million displaced so it’s not very
20 million displaced so it’s not very
20 million displaced so it’s not very likely that refugees are going to go
likely that refugees are going to go
likely that refugees are going to go home
home
home the second durable solution is local
the second durable solution is local
the second durable solution is local integration which means they fled to a
integration which means they fled to a
integration which means they fled to a country they’re living there and then
country they’re living there and then
country they’re living there and then eventually they will make that their
eventually they will make that their
eventually they will make that their home that also has become very difficult
home that also has become very difficult
home that also has become very difficult because the scale is so large at the
because the scale is so large at the
because the scale is so large at the countries that are hosting refugees who
countries that are hosting refugees who
countries that are hosting refugees who have been very generous
have been very generous
have been very generous you know countries like Jordan Lebanon
you know countries like Jordan Lebanon
you know countries like Jordan Lebanon Ethiopia Kenya they have struggles
Ethiopia Kenya they have struggles
Ethiopia Kenya they have struggles themselves these are not wealthy
themselves these are not wealthy
themselves these are not wealthy countries necessarily there’s limited
countries necessarily there’s limited
countries necessarily there’s limited opportunities in the workforce it’s
opportunities in the workforce it’s
opportunities in the workforce it’s difficult to educate all these children
difficult to educate all these children
difficult to educate all these children medical care is scarce so these
medical care is scarce so these
medical care is scarce so these countries are really although they’ve
countries are really although they’ve
countries are really although they’ve been very welcoming and remain welcoming
been very welcoming and remain welcoming
been very welcoming and remain welcoming are really struggling and they need our
are really struggling and they need our
are really struggling and they need our help so the UN refugee agency which
help so the UN refugee agency which
help so the UN refugee agency which supports these countries is actually
supports these countries is actually
supports these countries is actually only 40 percent funded to provide
only 40 percent funded to provide
only 40 percent funded to provide support to refugees and that’s the
support to refugees and that’s the
support to refugees and that’s the average it’s actually higher
average it’s actually higher
average it’s actually higher for Syrian refugees because that’s kind
for Syrian refugees because that’s kind
for Syrian refugees because that’s kind of the crisis that’s in the news but
of the crisis that’s in the news but
of the crisis that’s in the news but lower for African refugees as much as as
lower for African refugees as much as as
lower for African refugees as much as as little as twenty percent funded so
little as twenty percent funded so
little as twenty percent funded so there’s just not enough international
there’s just not enough international
there’s just not enough international support for these countries that are
support for these countries that are
support for these countries that are doing so much and the third thing is
doing so much and the third thing is
doing so much and the third thing is resettlement so resettlement is
resettlement so resettlement is
resettlement so resettlement is basically one third countries that can
basically one third countries that can
basically one third countries that can afford to do it like the US were the
afford to do it like the US were the
afford to do it like the US were the largest but also Australia Canada the
largest but also Australia Canada the
largest but also Australia Canada the Nordic countries countries in Europe
Nordic countries countries in Europe
Nordic countries countries in Europe actually go out and for political
actually go out and for political
actually go out and for political reasons for foreign policy reasons and
reasons for foreign policy reasons and
reasons for foreign policy reasons and free manatorian reasons identify
free manatorian reasons identify
free manatorian reasons identify refugees to bring to our countries to
refugees to bring to our countries to
refugees to bring to our countries to integrate and to support and so they can
integrate and to support and so they can
integrate and to support and so they can start their lives now that’s a great
start their lives now that’s a great
start their lives now that’s a great option but it’s the numbers are tiny
option but it’s the numbers are tiny
option but it’s the numbers are tiny really last the last year fiscal or
really last the last year fiscal or
really last the last year fiscal or sorry calendar year 2015 about a hundred
sorry calendar year 2015 about a hundred
sorry calendar year 2015 about a hundred thousand people were able to get
thousand people were able to get
thousand people were able to get resettlement it’s a much larger number
resettlement it’s a much larger number
resettlement it’s a much larger number now the international community has been
now the international community has been
now the international community has been paying more attention to it but it’s
paying more attention to it but it’s
paying more attention to it but it’s only about I think three hundred
only about I think three hundred
only about I think three hundred thousand and the u.s. is the largest we
thousand and the u.s. is the largest we
thousand and the u.s. is the largest we actually resettled eighty five thousand
actually resettled eighty five thousand
actually resettled eighty five thousand last fiscal year and are going to be
last fiscal year and are going to be
last fiscal year and are going to be resettling one hundred ten thousand of
resettling one hundred ten thousand of
resettling one hundred ten thousand of the eighty-five thousand that we
the eighty-five thousand that we
the eighty-five thousand that we resettled twelve thousand were Syrians
resettled twelve thousand were Syrians
resettled twelve thousand were Syrians so we resettled refugees from all over
so we resettled refugees from all over
so we resettled refugees from all over the world we are the world’s leader in
the world we are the world’s leader in
the world we are the world’s leader in refugee resettlement but what happens
refugee resettlement but what happens
refugee resettlement but what happens when these three durable solutions are
when these three durable solutions are
when these three durable solutions are not really an option I mean like we’ve
not really an option I mean like we’ve
not really an option I mean like we’ve just said there’s nobody’s going home
just said there’s nobody’s going home
just said there’s nobody’s going home there’s not enough resources and host
there’s not enough resources and host
there’s not enough resources and host communities for local integration and
communities for local integration and
communities for local integration and resettlement is very limited well people
resettlement is very limited well people
resettlement is very limited well people move me what would you do you know you
move me what would you do you know you
move me what would you do you know you have hope you know you’ve left already
have hope you know you’ve left already
have hope you know you’ve left already your kids aren’t in school you can’t
your kids aren’t in school you can’t
your kids aren’t in school you can’t find work what would you do you would
find work what would you do you would
find work what would you do you would move people move so the problem is it
move people move so the problem is it
move people move so the problem is it looks and feels like chaos because
looks and feels like chaos because
looks and feels like chaos because there’s no system there’s no people are
there’s no system there’s no people are
there’s no system there’s no people are just taking off and moving because
just taking off and moving because
just taking off and moving because there’s no real good way for it to
there’s no real good way for it to
there’s no real good way for it to happen in any other way so it looks and
happen in any other way so it looks and
happen in any other way so it looks and feels like chaos and people take huge
feels like chaos and people take huge
feels like chaos and people take huge risks and you all have seen that in the
risks and you all have seen that in the
risks and you all have seen that in the news people died in the Mediterranean
news people died in the Mediterranean
news people died in the Mediterranean people died crossing our southern border
people died crossing our southern border
people died crossing our southern border so we don’t want that we don’t think
so we don’t want that we don’t think
so we don’t want that we don’t think that people should be dying because
that people should be dying because
that people should be dying because they’re doing what all of us would do in
they’re doing what all of us would do in
they’re doing what all of us would do in their situation which is to move for a
their situation which is to move for a
their situation which is to move for a better life a safer life so the way
better life a safer life so the way
better life a safer life so the way forward
forward
forward World Peace would be good I have ten
World Peace would be good I have ten
World Peace would be good I have ten minutes so I’m going to skip that but
minutes so I’m going to skip that but
minutes so I’m going to skip that but that would be the solution development
that would be the solution development
that would be the solution development you know all kinds of there’s so many
you know all kinds of there’s so many
you know all kinds of there’s so many things that that you know need to be
things that that you know need to be
things that that you know need to be done but I can’t get it to that a second
done but I can’t get it to that a second
done but I can’t get it to that a second thing is helping host countries these
thing is helping host countries these
thing is helping host countries these countries have been very generous and
countries have been very generous and
countries have been very generous and let’s be realistic resettlement is not
let’s be realistic resettlement is not
let’s be realistic resettlement is not going to be an option for everybody in
going to be an option for everybody in
going to be an option for everybody in the near future and peace on earth
the near future and peace on earth
the near future and peace on earth so that everybody can home could go home
so that everybody can home could go home
so that everybody can home could go home is probably not going to happen anywhere
is probably not going to happen anywhere
is probably not going to happen anywhere near term so how do we support these
near term so how do we support these
near term so how do we support these countries and how do we kind of share
countries and how do we kind of share
countries and how do we kind of share the responsibility that’s the big theme
the responsibility that’s the big theme
the responsibility that’s the big theme this year with refugees how do we do
this year with refugees how do we do
this year with refugees how do we do that part of it is by actually providing
that part of it is by actually providing
that part of it is by actually providing more funds to these host countries to
more funds to these host countries to
more funds to these host countries to make sure that they can provide these
make sure that they can provide these
make sure that they can provide these services a lot of refugees don’t want to
services a lot of refugees don’t want to
services a lot of refugees don’t want to necessarily be resettled they want to
necessarily be resettled they want to
necessarily be resettled they want to stay close to home so that if the
stay close to home so that if the
stay close to home so that if the opportunity comes they can go back or
opportunity comes they can go back or
opportunity comes they can go back or they have family members who are still
they have family members who are still
they have family members who are still there they don’t I mean if you think
there they don’t I mean if you think
there they don’t I mean if you think about it if you had a child who was you
about it if you had a child who was you
about it if you had a child who was you know in your in your country and you
know in your in your country and you
know in your in your country and you were next door you might not want to go
were next door you might not want to go
were next door you might not want to go to the US you would want to kind of hope
to the US you would want to kind of hope
to the US you would want to kind of hope to be reunited quickly so some people
to be reunited quickly so some people
to be reunited quickly so some people don’t want to leave but there’s not
don’t want to leave but there’s not
don’t want to leave but there’s not enough money and again the u.s. is the
enough money and again the u.s. is the
enough money and again the u.s. is the largest supporter of refugees for the
largest supporter of refugees for the
largest supporter of refugees for the president asked for six billion and the
president asked for six billion and the
president asked for six billion and the FY 17 budget but that’s what we spent on
FY 17 budget but that’s what we spent on
FY 17 budget but that’s what we spent on Halloween six billion so you know we
Halloween six billion so you know we
Halloween six billion so you know we could be doing more there and the rest
could be doing more there and the rest
could be doing more there and the rest of the world also needs to do more and
of the world also needs to do more and
of the world also needs to do more and then the other thing is increasing
then the other thing is increasing
then the other thing is increasing resettlement it is a big number 110,000
resettlement it is a big number 110,000
resettlement it is a big number 110,000 but given the scale of the crisis we can
but given the scale of the crisis we can
but given the scale of the crisis we can and it should be doing more we are a
and it should be doing more we are a
and it should be doing more we are a country that’s always welcomed
country that’s always welcomed
country that’s always welcomed immigrants and refugees we have the
immigrants and refugees we have the
immigrants and refugees we have the capacity to do it the way we do it now
capacity to do it the way we do it now
capacity to do it the way we do it now is a public-private partnership where
is a public-private partnership where
is a public-private partnership where organizations such as highest the one I
organizations such as highest the one I
organizations such as highest the one I work for but also other faith-based
work for but also other faith-based
work for but also other faith-based organizations and humanitarian
organizations and humanitarian
organizations and humanitarian organizations partner with local
organizations partner with local
organizations partner with local communities on the ground to receive and
communities on the ground to receive and
communities on the ground to receive and welcome refugees so we have an infinite
welcome refugees so we have an infinite
welcome refugees so we have an infinite capacity for that there’s so much
capacity for that there’s so much
capacity for that there’s so much support for that in the communities
support for that in the communities
support for that in the communities despite the political rhetoric we need
despite the political rhetoric we need
despite the political rhetoric we need to be doing more resettlement and then
to be doing more resettlement and then
to be doing more resettlement and then what we need is a really a global
what we need is a really a global
what we need is a really a global movement for refugees we have a global
movement for refugees we have a global
movement for refugees we have a global movement of refugees but we need a
movement of refugees but we need a
movement of refugees but we need a global movement for refugees governments
global movement for refugees governments
global movement for refugees governments should do no do more but they’re not
should do no do more but they’re not
should do no do more but they’re not going to do more unless we demand it and
going to do more unless we demand it and
going to do more unless we demand it and we’re up against some really kind of big
we’re up against some really kind of big
we’re up against some really kind of big challenges which is fear of change
challenges which is fear of change
challenges which is fear of change fear of newcomers these are powerful
fear of newcomers these are powerful
fear of newcomers these are powerful things but when you think about it what
things but when you think about it what
things but when you think about it what are the risks of not doing this let’s
are the risks of not doing this let’s
are the risks of not doing this let’s not think about the risks of doing this
not think about the risks of doing this
not think about the risks of doing this but what are the risks of not doing this
but what are the risks of not doing this
but what are the risks of not doing this it’s it’s this chaos it’s this people
it’s it’s this chaos it’s this people
it’s it’s this chaos it’s this people really exposing themselves to it really
really exposing themselves to it really
really exposing themselves to it really dangerous situations and we can’t live
dangerous situations and we can’t live
dangerous situations and we can’t live in a world like that where thousands of
in a world like that where thousands of
in a world like that where thousands of people are dying just trying to find
people are dying just trying to find
people are dying just trying to find safety so more concretely I wish I could
safety so more concretely I wish I could
safety so more concretely I wish I could tell you some stories you see some
tell you some stories you see some
tell you some stories you see some pictures one thing you can do I’m sure
pictures one thing you can do I’m sure
pictures one thing you can do I’m sure there been TED talks by refugees watch
there been TED talks by refugees watch
there been TED talks by refugees watch them meet them I mean more refugees are
them meet them I mean more refugees are
them meet them I mean more refugees are being resettled in this country get
being resettled in this country get
being resettled in this country get their stories it’s really important it’s
their stories it’s really important it’s
their stories it’s really important it’s amazing what they will tell you and it’s
amazing what they will tell you and it’s
amazing what they will tell you and it’s amazing when you see how similar they
amazing when you see how similar they
amazing when you see how similar they are in their circumstances what their
are in their circumstances what their
are in their circumstances what their lives were like before they left they
lives were like before they left they
lives were like before they left they were like ours the other thing is tell
were like ours the other thing is tell
were like ours the other thing is tell your governors many governors have come
your governors many governors have come
your governors many governors have come out against refugee resettlement and
out against refugee resettlement and
out against refugee resettlement and your members of Congress that you would
your members of Congress that you would
your members of Congress that you would like to support refugees they’re not
like to support refugees they’re not
like to support refugees they’re not hearing from us because quite honestly
hearing from us because quite honestly
hearing from us because quite honestly we’re not as energized as those who
we’re not as energized as those who
we’re not as energized as those who really want to stop you know providing
really want to stop you know providing
really want to stop you know providing this kind of assistance support your
this kind of assistance support your
this kind of assistance support your local resettlement agency you can go
local resettlement agency you can go
local resettlement agency you can go online all of this you can find out
online all of this you can find out
online all of this you can find out online just your local resettlement
online just your local resettlement
online just your local resettlement agency by volunteering donating supplies
agency by volunteering donating supplies
agency by volunteering donating supplies donating your time would be great and
donating your time would be great and
donating your time would be great and I’m keep in mind that nobody expects to
I’m keep in mind that nobody expects to
I’m keep in mind that nobody expects to be a refugee again doctors business
be a refugee again doctors business
be a refugee again doctors business people just people just like us they the
people just people just like us they the
people just people just like us they the only power they have is to get up and
only power they have is to get up and
only power they have is to get up and move but they don’t have any power over
move but they don’t have any power over
move but they don’t have any power over policy but we do because we’re here and
policy but we do because we’re here and
policy but we do because we’re here and we’re safe so we really should use this
we’re safe so we really should use this
we’re safe so we really should use this opportunity to make our voices heard and
opportunity to make our voices heard and
opportunity to make our voices heard and do more to protect refugees we can make
do more to protect refugees we can make
do more to protect refugees we can make a difference so that is the way forward
a difference so that is the way forward
a difference so that is the way forward that I recommend and thank you all very
that I recommend and thank you all very
that I recommend and thank you all very much
”
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