This is the life of a refugee: the constant destruction and construction of dreams every day

Students attend a mathematics class at the Ofonze Primary School in Bidibidi refugee settlement, Yumbe District, Northern Region, Uganda (UNHCR, 2017)

This article was exclusively written for the Sting by Ms Nathalia Gabay Pereira, a medical student in her sixth semester at Pará State University (UEPA), Brazil. Ms Pereira is affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). The opinion expressed in this piece belongs to the writer and does not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

The United Nations Organization (UN) defends that all the humans have right to home, education, basic sanitation, food and respect. With that, UN created concept of human rights. With wars, especially the Second World War, the human rights gained strength in our society, but it is still disrespect, mainly with the refugees’ crisis.

Refugees’ crisis began in the Second World War, and has gained momentum after the war of Syria, when more the 5,5 million persons have already moved to other countries. These refugees went to other countries not only running away from war but also for search a place to live in peace, where their human rights will be respected.

However, the intense and non-organized flux of refugees in Europe direction forced many governments to create barriers, with the objective to maintain their economy stable, destining more than 5,2 millions of euros to protection of extern frontiers of European United. Of course, it is necessary that European government must think in their economy, trying to avoid that their countries be destroyed in the world market, and give a more comfortable life to their citizens.

Refugees in this situation, however, passed to be person without citizenship, which human rights cannot reach them, getting worse their life status and destroying dreams of children, adults and seniors who run away from a horrible situation. The feeling of isolation, sadness and hopelessness is something that all of us is going to feel someday, as I already felt, but imagine this feeling growing exponentially because of tragedies in your life: that’s the ways refugees live.

Let’s put in practice. Imagine that you already leaved your country because of wars that you do not have any fault. You run away from country, even if you love it, in an illegal and insecure way. A promise of a new life in front of you. Nevertheless, when you arrive in a new country, a huge barrier extends and you continue to live in the marge of society, still running away and living in an inhumane way. Each day, however, you still try to get a better life. That is the life of a refugee: the construction and destruction of dreams every day, the fight to live without knowing if can find a moment of peace.

In this way, human rights cannot be ignored in this context and it is necessary that UN, together with government, not only European, but of all world can act housing these people or at least giving support to them. Maybe it is a dream to think this way, but is better continue with hope that without it.

About the author

Ms Nathalia Gabay Pereira is a medical student in the sixth semester of Pará State University (UEPA), Brazil. Graduated in High School in the school Marista Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (2011 -2013). Graduated in Advanced English in Aslan’s Course (2011). Currently she is trainee in the Experimental Surgery Laboratory of Pará State University (2016- Present), Programs and Activities Director of IFMSA Brazil (2017 – Present) and Member of academic league of neurology and neurosurgery of Pará – LANNEP (2017- Present).