I make no bones about the fact that I have no understanding of politics. Of world news. That I have to be forced, at times, to read what’s going on in the world and escape my little bubble. I rely on my husband to tell me what’s relevant outside of my bubble.
But on occasion things pop into my bubble. Things that no one should have to see. Things that no one should have to live through.
Things like the tragic drowning of Aylan Kurdi, aged 3. Alongside his brother Galip and his mother Rehan. The pain of his father calling their names. Having them slip through his fingers. Swimming to the meeting point. To be faced with the horror he is now faced with. A life without his family. His heart. His loves. The boys that woke him every morning to play with him. The wife that lay her head next to his every night.
And while I’m no political expert I am a human. I feel. I see. And now I see I realise I should have seen sooner. We all should. It shouldn’t take the death of a child to see what should have been seen already. It shouldn’t be the death of a child, and the death of thousands of other desperate refugees seeking solace, that make us see. It shouldn’t have reached this point.
Its not about the supposed “migrant crisis” which in fact would imply that there is a choice. There’s not. It’s not a “migrant” crisis at all. It’s people seeking refuge. Help. Support. It’s a refugee situation.
It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about us. It’s about them. It’s about humanity.
People are suffering. People are hurting. People are standing by and watching worried about other things. People are worried about refugees entering their country when in reality they should be worrying about what is driving people to leave their country. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly. Even in light of what happened to the Kurdi family people will still be fleeing Syria. They know the risks. They are willing to take them. To put their children through them. Doesn’t that tell us everything we need to know? That you know there is a chance that your child, your heart, your life, might not make it, that you might not? But that’s a risk you need to take.
That’s why we should all stand together and help. There are a multitude of charities collecting donations, the Independent lists 5 practical ways to help. On top of that there is the awareness issue.
Not everyone reads the news. Not everyone will be aware of the why’s behind the horror. Not everyone will know how they can help. So that’s why I’m taking part in #SaveSyriasChildren with the #itcouldhavebeenme campaign raising money for Save the Children UK.
To join in is simple, take a black and white photo of your child, children or yourself holding a sign saying “it could have been me #savesyriaschildren” and make donation of £5 to Save The Children by texting the word SYRIA to 70008* (UK only) or visiting the Save Syria Children donation page on the Save the Children website.
Then posting the picture to Facebook along with the following words:
There’s lots that you could do from the comfort of your own home.
Please don’t turn a blind eye. Do Something to help. Anything.
Whatever you decide, don’t choose apathy.
#SaveSyriasChildren
To donate £5 to Save the Children please text SYRIA to 70008 or visit http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/about-us/emergencies/syria-appeal
Because let’s face facts, we don’t know what the future holds, and it could have been you.
*Save the Children Mobile Donation T&Cs
If you, like me, don’t know much about the news this article sums up the Syria crisis; there are 4 million Syrian refugees in host countries but more than 15 million Syrian people need our help with over 50% of refugees being children, who have lost everything.
