WORLD BRIDGE BLOG

“It’s a particularly exciting week to be here in our nation’s capital,” said host Sarah Jessica Parker last night as she kicked off the VIP reception before the powerful and stirring performance of the play Betrayed at the Kennedy Center.

Ms. Parker, with her co-host and Refugees International Board Member Matt Dillon, graciously welcomed guests at the VIP reception and immediately prior to the play.  They remarked upon the challenges facing the incoming Obama administration to help nearly 5 million Iraqis displaced by the war, and they spoke of their hopes in bringing this one-time performance to Washington, D.C.

"When I saw the play, I was struck by how powerfully it illustrates the crisis facing Iraqi refugees,” noted Mr. Dillon.  “What better place to present it than with Refugees International in Washington, where it can have the biggest impact with policy makers."

Ms. Parker echoed this sentiment: “Seeing so many of our leading citizens here tonight gives me hope that we won’t let their situation slip into the shadow of the past, that we will reach out with the assistance they so critically need to survive and rebuild their lives.”

Betrayed was written by George Packer and is based on interviews he conducted with Iraqi translators who risked their lives to work with Americans in Iraq.  As Mr. Packer described at the panel discussion following the play, “I wanted to make American audiences live in the skin of Iraqis.”

And the superb performances by the Betrayed actors clearly moved the audience and the participants in the panel discussion, which, along with Mr. Packer, featured director Pippin Parker, The List Project founder Kirk Johnson, RI President Ken Bacon and RI Iraq expert Kristele Younes.  

Here at Refugees International, we’re feeling overjoyed by the success of the evening and by having such an influential gathering of people understand the stories and struggles of Iraqis who have been uprooted by violence.

And we are feeling as dedicated as ever to continuing our work to bring help to all displaced and vulnerable Iraqis.

“Organizations such as Refugees International are committed to taking specific, effective actions to save the lives of individuals who find themselves abandoned by tragic circumstances” said Ms. Parker.  “By supporting their efforts, we can bring real hope to Iraq.”

-- Sara Fusco

Photo by Jamie Rose