Jerome Novotny , OMI – Poet Warsan Shire hit a nerve with this estanza from her poem “Home”.
No one leaves home unless / home is the mouth of a shark.
You only run for the border / when you see the whole city / running as well.” and
“no one puts their children in a boat / unless the water is safer than the land.”
Today, we are facing a global refugee crisis. In mid-2024, the refugee population reached 43.7 million. In addition to this number, there were 72.1 million internally displaced people and 8 million asylum seekers, leaving a total estimate of 122.6 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes.
In this article, let us briefly analyze the global refugee problem of 43.7 million people. Does anyone really believe that this large 
number of people decided beforehand to join the ranks of refugees? I doubt it very much. No one in their wildest dreams expects to become a refugee. Imagine a doctor heading home from work after a busy day at the hospital, or a mechanic fixing a broken axle on his Toyota truck in the early afternoon, or a girl walking to school with a schoolbag draped over her shoulder, or a father kissing his daughter goodnight.
Each one expects tomorrow to be the same as today. Each is relaxed and, in a sense, enjoying the moment. But fear can come in an instant. It can be the sound of gunfire, the explosion of a bomb, or a knock at the door. Many of those who are forced to flee have just a few minutes to make vital decisions, to grab what they can, and to run.
Close your eyes and try to imagine the following scene: suddenly everything around you crumbles. You have only a few moments to pack up before you run. What would you take with you? Seriously, look at the things in your immediate surroundings: what three things would you take with you before you run?
Next, where would you go? How would you travel? Who would you go with? 
These are desperate choices you make in a few seconds, and you would have to live with them for the rest of your life.
Gazing at the world scene, we see that the top 10 refugee-producing countries are Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea. These top ten account for 87% of the total refugee population.
Try to visualize 43.7 million refugees who have no place to call home. How would you define the word “home”? Not being a refugee, my definition of a home would include five areas as being basic necessities for anyone, including refugees: (1) where one can relax and live in peace; (2) where one thinks freely and does things freely; (3) where one’s family and friends live; (4) where one can communicate in one’s mother tongue; and (5) where one can go to school, work, and worship.
Without such a safe place to reside, refugees face severe suffering with no promise that they will survive. This predicament is unacceptable in a world with so many resources and means. Society must reassure refugees that they will walk with them on their unknown journey, that they will assist them in every human way possible, including financial aid, and convince them that in the long term they will never be forgotten regardless of their color or religion.
Have you ever wondered what countries receive the most refugees? The wealthiest countries host barely 24% of the world’s refugees. The remaining 76% are hosted by poor, low- and middle-income countries. Turkey is the single biggest host country for refugees in the world. One would think that high-income countries would dominate the 76% category, leaving the least developed countries with a smaller percentage. But that is not the case. For example, Japan, a developed country, takes only 2.2% of refugees, while poor countries like Aruba take 16.1% and Curacao 14.4%. Something is wrong here.
As for life-affirming communities today, the peaceful integration of people from different cultures is, in some way, a reflection of Catholicism. Our late Pope Francis showed genuine concern for this problem when he stated, “This tragedy (of refugees) … affects millions and is fundamentally a crisis of humanity, calling for a response of solidarity, compassion, generosity, and an immediate practical commitment of resources … Refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women, and 
men who are forced to leave their homes … they share a fundamental right to live in peace and security.”
The big question for us today is, “Why should we help refugees?” The answer is very simple: welcoming people from other countries strengthens host communities by making them more diverse and flexible in our fast-changing world. Some of the most inspiring and influential people in the arts, science, politics, and technology have been refugees. Most importantly, however, accepting them protects the most precious right of all: the right to live. Turning our backs on refugees in many cases could be fatal for them. Thus, accepting refugees – providing the most basic protection – is, in many cases, lifesaving. We have an obligation and responsibility to help our brothers and sisters in need.
We cannot remain silent anymore because the global forced refugee problem has hit a record high. Only concrete action, not words, will alleviate the crisis. “I never thought I would become a refugee” are the voices of refugees crying out in the wilderness on seemingly deaf ears.
(Romans 12:13 – “The Mark of a true Christian: “…Extend hospitality to strangers…”) Our love and faith in God is determined by the justice shown to strangers and to refugees.
Stay Informed:
1. Download UNHCR PDF – Global forced displacement as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, …
2. Catholic Social Teaching on Refugees and Asylum Seekers
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God Bless
Jerry Novotny, OMI
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(The Difference is LIFE) “Here I speak not only to those who enjoy the blessings and consolation of revealed religion but also to those who face the mysteries of human destiny alone. The flame of Christian ethics is still our highest guide. To guard and cherish it is our first interest, both spiritually and materially. The fulfilment of Spiritual duty in our daily life is vital to our survival. Only by bringing it into perfect application can we hope to solve for ourselves the problems of this world and not of this world alone.” – Winston Churchhill
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Websites by Fr. Jerry
(English) LifeIssues.net
(English) Fighting for the Culture of Life – (Fr. Jerry’s Blog)
(English) Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – Japan and Korea
(Japanese) Japan-lifeissues.net
(Japanese) Human Rights: The Road to a Happy Life – (Fr. Jerry’s Blog)
(Japanese) Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – Japan and Korea
