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War and Refugees

What is a Refugee?

Before watching the video below think about your experiences:

1. What have you learned about refugees so far

  • from your own research?
  • from topics at school?
  • from parents and the wider community?
  • from the news and other media?

2. What personal experiences have you had with refugees​?

Words that come up in the video that might be helpful to know:

  • Xenophobia means, "fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners..." (Merriam-Webster, 2019).
  • Asylum means, "a place of retreat and security" (Merriam-Webster, 2019).
  • Refoulement means, "the act of forcing a refugee or asylum seeker to return to a country or territory where he or she is likely to face persecution." (Merriam-Webster, 2019).

References:

"Asylum." Merriam-Webster.com, 2019, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asylum, Accessed 29th Oct, 2019.

"Refoulement." Merriam-Webster.com. 2019, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refoulement, Accessed 29th Oct, 2019.

"Xenophobia." Merriam-Webster.com, 2019, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xenophobia, Accessed 29th Oct, 2019

Take the Quiz.

Do you know the answers to the following questions?

Worldwide, approximately how many people have been forced to leave their homes to escape violence and war?
100 million: 1 votes (25%)
60 million: 3 votes (75%)
20 million: 0 votes (0%)
5 million: 0 votes (0%)
Total Votes: 4
According to the international legal definition, a refugee is someone who:
is fleeing war, violence and/or persecution.: 1 votes (11.11%)
is fleeing a large scale natural disaster.: 3 votes (33.33%)
is fleeing poverty.: 1 votes (11.11%)
all of the above.: 4 votes (44.44%)
Total Votes: 9
An Asylum seeker is:
another word for refugee.: 0 votes (0%)
another word for internally displaced person: 1 votes (33.33%)
someone who is seeking to be recognized by a host family as a refugee.: 2 votes (66.67%)
someone who is seeking to be recognized by a host country as an internally displaced person.: 0 votes (0%)
Total Votes: 3
Host countries have several obligations towards refugees, such as:
non-refoulement: 0 votes (0%)
non-discrimination: 0 votes (0%)
recognizing and protecting basic human rights and freedoms: 1 votes (25%)
all of the above.: 3 votes (75%)
Total Votes: 4

Further Discussion Topics 

 Can you explain the differences between, and common traits of, refugees and migrants?

 Think about a family forced to leave their country to flee war. Explain the main obstacles and challenges they may face along the way.

 What can ordinary people (like you and me) do to help families and individuals who have become refugees?