March 8, 2016
1262
Some people believe refugees are flooding into Europe to improve their economic well-being. That’s not the case, says the moderator of the 141st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Refugees are literally fleeing for their lives, said Rev. Karen Horst (L), Saturday evening, at a meeting at Knox Presbyterian Church in Kincardine.
Last summer, Horst was on a tour to see the progress of the church’s work in Eastern Europe. Her group arrived in Hungary the day that country closed the border to refugees. Suddenly 5,000 people were held up at the border. Many of the refugees were from Syria, but there were others from Nigeria, Pakistan and other countries.
Nearby residents, seeing the people stopped at the border, went home and returned with food and clothing for the refugees.
Those on the church tour stopped and talked to a group of about 30 refugees. A Syrian who spoke English did the translating. As they boarded a boat to cross into Greece, one refugee said the smugglers shot an old man for being too slow.
That Syrian translator had an interesting story. His family had commissioned him to find a safe place to live. The trip was planned for a long time.
“We just know we are going to die (in Syria),” the Syrian told Horst and the others. “So I have to go and find a place for the family to live.”
People are struggling to stay alive, said Horst, adding that economic migrants don’t risk their lives as these refugees do.
About 30 people were at the meeting Saturday evening – most are members of the Kincardine Refugee Committee and Knox Church.
Some asked why refugee families have arrived in neighbouring towns, but not Kincardine. They were told that other communities had applications for refugees submitted much earlier than Kincardine did.
Rev. Kathy Fraser of Knox said Allan Thompson, the Liberal candidate in the recent federal election, has told her that he will meet with immigration to try and expedite the process.
Moving into a new community and not knowing the language or customs can be very stressful, said Horst. When the refugees do arrive in Kincardine, the community should respect their privacy.
With at least 60-million refugees in the world, this is a long-term global problem, said Horst.
In an interview following her presentation, Horst was asked if she has any hope for the world.
She does. It’s the people's response to refugees in need – like the people at the Hungarian border bringing food and clothing, like the people of Kincardine and elsewhere working to help refugees. That is what gives her hope.
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