Like many of you, I was upset to the point of tears when I saw the image of a lifeless toddler, washed up on a beach in Turkey. 3-year old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi’s image has sparked outrage around the world. Some are upset that such a photo is being shown in the media. I agree with Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, that our outrage should be directed elsewhere:
What really touched me was the little sneakers,” he says. “I’m a father of two boys myself. … I realized that his parents had dressed him that morning for a very difficult journey.”
Bouckaert acknowledges that “it’s a very disturbing photo, but I think we should be offended that children are washing up dead on our beaches because of the failure of our politicians to provide safe passage … rather than by the photo itself.
Families are in need of safe passage. If you want to learn more about Aylan’s story you can find it here (note: photos used in the story may be distressing to some viewers).
The United Nations estimates that some 2,500 people have lost their lives on risky sea journeys as they try to escape violence and repression at home. Like all numbers associated with the migration crisis, this one can be hard to fathom. But the message of Aylan Kurdi’s photo seems clear enough: The world needs to do better in addressing migrants’ needs, safety and dignity. – Hannah Bloch, NPR
You can provide direct financial support to Syrian refugee families here.
A donation, of course, will not end this crisis. But it can help to provide food, shelter, and medical supplies to desperate families.
These are real kids who are dying. These are real families whose lives are being ruined. And while the use of Aylan’s photo was controversial, it has reminded people everywhere of that fact.
I donated yesterday in memory of the little boy and his brother. It has deeply saddened me. He looks a lot like my little 4 year old. My heart breaks for them. I’ve just now made a second donation, this time to the group you’ve shared. I know that I’ll keep his memory close, and pray that the world cries out loud for humanity to start to figure out how to have peace, to get along, to save one another. Something’s got to give.
Thanks for taking the time to share this Laura. I think many people had the same reaction – that that child look like it could be our child. It’s horrifying. Hopefully we can help in some small way with our donations, although clearly much more than that is needed.