Open thread: share your stories of forced migration
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Version 0 of 1. Last year saw some of the highest levels of forced displacement in history. Nearly 6 million people were forced to flee their homes in the first six months of 2013, with more than half escaping from Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria. Some British politicians are calling for Syrian refugees to be admitted into the UK, but there are concerns that the expansion of “fortress Europe” may push the world’s most vulnerable citizens into even more dangerous situations. We want to hear from you. Do you have a story of displacement? Maybe it happened to you, or is central to your family history. What forced you or your relatives to flee? What was the migration route? What countries did you travel through before you reached your destination? In 2013 we asked readers to share their migration experiences on Twitter. Ali Mohamoud, who left Somalia for the Netherlands, said those forced to migrate could suddenly “thrash all plans and dreams”. Does that sound familiar? What difficult choices did you face? How easy was it to settle into the host country? Add your thoughts in the comment thread below. You can also contribute on Twitter @GdnDevelopment. As always, if you have any problems posting a comment, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@theguardian.com and we’ll add your views to the thread. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |