By Mariama FoFana, American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Volunteer
The American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming joins the world in commemorating World Refugee Day on June 20. This day honors the courage and resilience of refugees around the globe. In the first months of 2022 alone, the number of refugees increased by 10.7 million from the accounted number at the end of 2021. Currently, over 100 million individuals are forced to live away from their homes as a result of political conflicts, human rights violations or other reasons.
When the home is no longer safe, many people’s only options are risking the odds and staying or seeking refuge. Making a decision to stay or leave is an incredibly difficult choice; one my family had to make when I was 16 years old. I grew up in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, where democracy was not always a priority. By the time I was 15 years old, I had lived through two civil wars.
After a long-overdue presidential election in 2010, Cote d’Ivoire had two presidents claiming they won the elections, two fully formed governments and millions of innocent citizens caught in the crossfire. Many days, I found myself hurrying home from school with my siblings and other neighborhood kids between military clashes. After a while, my parents started the process of seeking asylum in the United States.
In 2012, I said goodbye to everything I’ve ever known and moved to Denver, Colorado.
My transition to the US was easier for me than most refugees because I had my family and was immediately introduced to a new community that helped us adapt and manage to learn a new language.
While I was lucky to have an amazing support system, many refugees find themselves in a new country and have to start over alone. The Red Cross provides services to help create a support system that could help make this transition more bearable.
Through the Restoring Family Links (RFL) program, The Red Cross helps reconnect loved ones separated internationally as a result of conflict, disaster, migration or other humanitarian emergencies. When tragedy strikes and circumstances force families to flee their homes, loved ones often become separated.
When traditional methods of finding one another are not available, these families often need help to reconnect. The Red Cross helps thousands of these families reconnect every year.
Additionally to RFL, the Red Cross also provides support to refugees at various stages of their journeys including before they even leave their country of origin, while in transit and once they arrive at their destination. The Red Cross and Red Crescent network delivers relief supplies—such as food, water, hygiene kits, baby supplies, clothing and basic medical items—in addition to first aid and medical services, shelter and comfort to families traumatized by conflict. This work takes place all over the globe—from Africa and Central America to Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Today, nearly ten years after I fled Cote d’Ivoire, I am a proud volunteer for the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. Before I started my journey as a volunteer, the Red Cross symbol made me smile because of memories I had of Red Cross volunteers coming to my elementary school. Becoming a volunteer has shown me the extent of the Red Cross’s impact on a personal level. With every story, I hear and every story I write, I realize how important is it to have the necessary support when facing difficult times.
The American Red Cross is guided by seven Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. As a humanitarian organization, these principles guide our actions every day and compel us to alleviate human suffering in the U.S. and around the world.
To learn more about the work the Red Cross does to help refugees across the globe, visit the Migration and Refugee Crisis page.