Remember refugees and those working with them
David Maganda is one of a trio of Belvoir Parishioners who have been working with OM amongst refugees in Eastern Europe (see news story here). After travelling out to Serbia David met a group of young lads from N. Africa, Syria and Iraq, pictured below – young men thrown together in their desperate attempt to cross borders to reach western Europe.
They and an Iraqi family were the last group of refugees left in the camp at Sid before the government closed it down. When David travelled to Bosnia with Carson and Richard the young men decided to try their luck on foot and see if they could make it to Germany. A few days ago David met them again wandering around Sid. He had gone to the train station to chat to people and see if he could assist.
Although they’re smiling in the photo, the boys were exhausted, tired, hungry with their feet and legs swollen from days of walking and getting lost and disorientated in forests and walking over rough terrain. All their hopes and optimism were dashed. David was able to help in small ways and seek to lift their spirits. But knowing that it was a temporary fix, as most agencies have pulled out of Sid and people are either sleeping rough on the streets, or at the train station – effectively homeless, nowhere to go, and nowhere to belong.
As David walked about Sid he saw hundreds of people milling around, their entire belongings contained in back packs, or plastic bags – tired, hungry, unwashed and not knowing where to turn. He was heartbroken for the many stranded in a country struggling to cope and with limited resources to help. Knowing that he had a place to sleep and money to buy food, compounded his sense of inadequacy. Yet he had many opportunities to pray with people and seek to offer hope. But it was a difficult day, and at times he was lost for words when individuals shared their struggles to reach Europe.
Pray for these young lads and many others like them, who are now homeless in the very place where they thought they would be safe. David continues to meet with them in the evenings to encourage, discuss options, provide some cultural orientation, pray and offer support.