If Tony Bennett Ruled the World

Today for World Refugee Day I attended the UN Refugee Agency’s event at National Geographic with some colleagues. The speakers included Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Ellen Sauerbrey, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Both women highlighted the US refugee resettlement program, which was a strong focus of the entire event, particularly with the theme of World Refugee Day being “A New Home, a New Life”.

Two refugees who now live in the United States gave their perspectives on the cultural challenges of resettlement. Ishmael Beah is a former child soldier from Sierra Leone (you can read more about Ishmael and his recent book here). He addressed the audience with a plea, to be lenient and understanding of refugees who resettle to the US. Ishmael said it’s not always easy to embrace a new culture quickly, and that it’s important for people to accept refugees and the traditions that they still hold onto from their homelands.

John Dau is a refugee from southern Sudan, one of the so-called Lost Boys of Sudan, whose journey to the US is chronicled in the film, God Grew Tired of Us. He also talked about his experiences with resettlement to the US. When he was still in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, a group of them would gather to discuss what they knew about America. Some refugees said the technology was so advanced that you ordered food in a restaurant by just pushing a button. Others had heard that American women all carry guns in their small purses. John told the audience that he kept asking himself, “What is this country?” However he said his perception changed after he arrived to the US and it turned out to be a nice place. John stressed that resettlement can have a positive impact on how outsiders view America. It can also bring opportunity and a new life for many refugees, as his own experience has shown.

It was good to hear the stories of these two refugees on a day that is supposed to highlight the plight of the 34.5 million refugees and internally displaced people around the world. However, there was not enough focus on what can be done to assist those who are not being resettled and who continue to live in difficult conditions, like this Iraqi refugee woman in Amman, Jordan and this Burmese refugee woman in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

At today's event, Tony Bennett received the UN Refugee Agency’s humanitarian of the year award and performed his song, "If I Ruled the World", which is featured in a public service announcement for the Aid Darfur campaign. Holding back tears, he told the audience that he hopes one day the world will wake up to the importance of these issues.

Until then, we at Refugees International will continue to highlight the situation for the displaced around the world and advocate for their improved protection and assistance.