The plight of refugees is an incredibly complex and multifaceted issue that demands urgent attention from the international community. These individuals, who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to persecution, conflict, or natural disasters, face a myriad of challenges that often go unnoticed by those far removed from the situation. From the moment they are uprooted from their familiar surroundings, refugees encounter obstacles such as limited access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and healthcare. Furthermore, they endure physical and emotional trauma that can result in long-term psychological consequences. The uncertainty of their future also weighs heavily on them, as they grapple with lost opportunities for education and employment while navigating unfamiliar legal systems in search of protection. The plights of refugee populations are diverse and ever-evolving; therefore it is crucial for governments, NGOs, and global citizens alike to collaborate effectively in order to address their unique needs and provide sustainable solutions for these vulnerable communities seeking safety and stability.
Nani Mariani
forced to flee for safety tears … If possible be drinking water
without a father figure kids grow no light Mama… when do we go home
Neena Singh
mountain upon mountain of summer clouds cover the pine … he sits on the garden bench dreaming of his native sky
waves roll crash against rocks then return to the shore the heartache of the refugee stays with him forever
hordes of geese honk by the lake a refugee couple walk together in silence their thoughts far away
Tuyet Van Do
cramming like sardines they head out to sea searching for freedom
crisp cold winter in summer clothes they reach foreign land a place they now call home
Rupa Anand
the days get longer as a family digs through debris & mud tattered bed sheets as walls and a tarpaulin roof . . .
after the war storm a calm summer night fireflies light up the table with bowls of borscht and smetana
[Ukrainian beet soup with sour cream]
Christina Chin
the man hastily bundles up his family boards the junk —rucksacks and working tools
tired out longing for land extreme fatigue exhausted by heat falls asleep
waking up to a sudden bump the boat hits the sandbar rough landing
Nitu Yumnam
leaving for homeland my empty backpack full of gunshots and bombings
cursing destiny throwing stones... in the ripples a thud why me?
conversation with dad about difficulties... through his voice the strength he seeds to soothe the storm
Lorelyn De la Cruz Arevalo
sharing a cramped space with strangers now the only family they have
the drums of fear inside their chests louder and louder than their growling empty stomachs
lost in a crowd of lost adults the little girl comforts her doll
Randy Brooks
so many newborns didn’t make it through the night one donkey slips into Egypt
empty cans of beer along the shore a father and daughter face down in the Rio Grande
locked up with all the others a little girl dies lacking a glass of water
Bonnie J Scherer
paying dearly for a ride to freedom turbulent waters tumble the hopes and capsize the dreams
women and children relegated to the boat’s hold … batten down the hatches
packed tighter than a can of unsalted sardines the tinny vessel springs a leak
Jennifer Gurney
There are refugees From both the Ukraine and Russia At my food bank now I wonder what would happen If they met each other here
Fleeing Europe from The Nazi invasion and Extermination Jews turned to America – Only to be turned away
Internment camps where Japanese refugees on American soil Held hostage during a war Not of their making
Debbie Strange
refugees try to cross the border . . . this tree well lined with frozen bits of moss and rabbit fur
Ram Chandran
treading in this new land... vanished into thin air all those flowery paths I have traveled thus far
as I watch helplessly her boat drifts away... on the shore winds echo her words 'won't you come with me'...
every day when I wake up and look through camp window a lone maple holding a bit of hope for me
Kathleen Trocmet
mother changes the doll's bandage . . . wiping war from her daughter's face
war debris dusts her hair . . . she primes the pump with the last of their water
in a dimming twilight mother lies still under broken glass . . . a string of whys unanswered
Jerome Berglund
fluttering low the sparrow weaves through narrow space between the houses
where are we going little girl shouts as father leads them through traffic crossing street
glances left glances right on foot not being run down becomes full-time job
Roberta Beach Jacobson
collecting socks and hats for the kids all they want is a new teddy bear and maybe a hug
fires of war surround the village soon residents must hike through rain to reach a cluster of tents
his last chunk of crusty bread he hands it to his crying sister without being asked
Keitha Keyes
dangerous journeys … too many refugees crammed into leaky boats destined for somewhere where they won’t be welcome
joy in the eyes of a teenage refugee learning to play … a carefree childhood denied him in the past
easy prey for people smugglers refugees risk their lives in seas of desperation
Marilyn Humbert
no entry says the government officer how to prove my name, my status... lost when the bombs fell
detained helpless to prevent deportation my error filling in our visa application
in raucous chorus the cockatoo flock wheels into sun rise how I envy their freedom no one hears a refugee's voice
Chen-ou Liu
the cries of wild geese north bound... on both sides of this winding border river men and women with backpacks
rows of tents behind chain-link fencing and razor wire-- the boy flies a paper plane into his sky of dreams
a roar of the moonlit surf men and women in an inflatable boat crying, AllahGodJesus ..
Richard L. Matta
the asylum camp with kids’ drawings… inside tents a dad, mom or sibling missing
refugee kids scavenging for meals their father a professional once wipes his tears
her painting in a refugee camp… the palette colors in shades of yellow and blue
Giuliana Ravaglia
ultimo treno raccontando ancora il profumo di casa nei giardini deserti il silenzio delle rose
last train still telling the scent of home in deserted gardens the silence of the roses
girasoli... non guardano più verso Est fra curve di fango mille profughi soli
sunflowers... they no longer look towards East between curves of mud a thousand refugees alone
Jon Hare
songbirds leave the forest homes upturned and torn asunder will they ever return
migrating to an unknown country unwelcoming uncompromising and uncaring
children unaccompanied preyed upon working hard to make our damned lives easier
Kathabela Wilson
sanctuary for refugees my mother's heart all she ever wanted was to build a peace center
Mother of Exiles I always knew it was my mom --inviting strangers to our dinner table nourished by her heart
Statue of Liberty on the ferry 'cross the bay I memorized the poem where I learned the power of what poetry could do
Siggi Saradunn
escape from terror looking for asylum in Maine no easy task medivac flies low to land she cringes in fear
young man of twelve born the year the war started joins his dad in Maine life is different here war time school goes on
refugees sent to Maine no accomodations tired, hungry, confused citizens rally to help
Timothy Daly
they give me a new job and deny her a visa
she cries because her mum is stuck in traffic on the way to hospital back in Bogotá