US readers on the refugee crisis: 'I just lost it after seeing the image of that boy'

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/05/us-readers-respond-european-refugee-crisis

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The shocking images of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi’s body lying facedown in the surf in Turkey displayed on the front pages of newspapers worldwide this week have drawn the world’s attention to a refugee crisis that has been escalating all summer.

On Thursday at least 14 US senators called on the US government to take in thousands more Syrian refugees by the end of 2016. The UK prime minister, David Cameron, has now pledged to take in “thousands of refugees”, and Germany has agreed to help at least 800,000.

For many, the official response to the crisis has been too slow and people have been finding ways to help refugees themselves or via charitable organizations. Following a Guardian call-out asking people to tell us how they are helping, we received numerous responses from the US. Here are some of them.

Alex, 31, airline pilot

“Up until today, I wasn’t helping. And even today, I only gave $50 to the Aylan Kurdi fund. I don’t know exactly if I will take any other immediate action, but I can promise this ... I won’t forget this, I won’t forget these people, and I will, from now on, pay more attention to what is going on with our world’s citizens, and I will pass it on to others I know.

“I just lost it after seeing the image of that boy. I read a news clip remarking how he should be playing in the sand and not lying lifelessly on it, and I can’t agree more. Every little child should be playing in the sand. It’s just now hitting the US, it seems … I hope to see the charities flooded with funds soon. I can tell you that the plight of refugees has been pretty much ignored here for years.”

Helga, 67, Washington DC

“I’m looking to find an organization in the US that is involved in the migration crisis in Europe. Haven’t found one yet. The US government has not done anything at all to help. The president could possibly have avoided the war in Syria by stepping in when he threatened he would. And now, the US is not exactly opening its borders to welcome the refugees.

“My husband and I donated to the Help the Children fund today. I can only hope that that donation will go directly to the Syrian families in need.”

Rachel, 38

“I’m donating because the world is too small and our resources too big to be this unfairly distributed. I have kids who moan about giving away their old toys. I told them today that some kids never even get to grow into adults, never mind play with toys.

“I thought I struggled with day-to-day life until you read the media stories. We have it good and owe others to help them.”

OldYankee, 67

“The US is not taking refugees from these countries. We should be. However, there are local charities trying to help from here. The current immigration debate is a national shame and disgrace. What we lack the will to do nationally we can do locally, even if only by donations.

“We should have the Mediterranean fleet helping. This is the worst refugee crisis since the second world war in Europe, and we have the relatively recent history of the boat people post-Vietnam. We can and should help.

“We are in the last holiday weekend of the summer. Although some of us have been watching this unfold for some time and are horrified, most Americans are clueless. I hope this changes soon. Despite the current anti-immigrant sentiments of many, not all of us share that stance or the grandstanding of candidates for national office.

“The US is a fundamentally generous nation. I hope that those of us who are aware of our own immigrant stories start to step up and just as Britons have done shift the thinking and the policy of our governments. This is one time that ‘We the People’ could actually mean something.”

Sarah Johnson, 33, Chicago

“I’m submitting petitions and calls to action for our government to accept refugees from Syria and other war affected countries. Donating money and supplies to NGOs that are helping refugees in Europe. It’s the right thing to do.

“[Government response is] pitiful so far. We could do so much more! Many in the US are anti-migration, even though we are a country founded by immigrants. Some people here are ignorant and selfish and don’t know their history.”

Tina, Ohio

“I’ll be donating books and money. It is heartbreaking to see people scared, afraid and willing to risk their lives to be safe. I fear more that people are not aware of the crisis.”

How are you supporting people caught up in the migration crisis? Share your story here