On World Refugee Day: Seven Ways You Can Help (VIDEO)

On World Refugee Day: Seven Ways You Can Help (VIDEO)
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More than 65 million people are displaced globally; here's what you can do about this global crisis.

On World Refugee Day, consider this statistic: Refugees today are displaced for 17 years on average--almost twice as long as 20 years ago. Since half of the 60 million people who have been forced to flee are children, this "lost generation" could spend their entire childhood without a place to call home.

The conflict in Syria alone--now into its sixth year-- has put more than 11 million people on the move.

"The scale of the suffering is devastating. Each of the millions of displaced Syrians is an individual uprooted from a full life, a career, a loved one," says Kevin Hartigan, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.

In recognition of World Refugee Day, here are seven ways you can make a difference in the lives of those who've had to leave one of their most cherished possessions behind: their homes.

1. RAISE AWARENESS: The Syrian Civil War has led to massive displacement. Watch this video and share it with your network to help raise awareness about the plight of Syrian refugees. (Video is available for download and embedding via YouTube)

2. LEARN MORE: The more you know about this crisis, the more you understand its underlying causes, the better you will be able to teach others. Continued warfare in Syria and violence in places like Iraq and Afghanistan has contributed to the surge of refugees from those countries. Meanwhile, deteriorating economic conditions in places like Sub-Saharan Africa has led people to Europe in search of a better life just as violence in Central American neighborhoods has sent people looking for safety.

3. DONATE: Donate to those organizations like Catholic Relief Services that are providing immediate life-saving assistance to those in need.

4. ADVOCATE: For years, countries in the Middle East have been sheltering the largest number of Syrians and Iraqis. Urge members of your Congressional delegation to continue and expand humanitarian assistance to help refugees in these countries, as well as those burdened by this new migration.

5. USE SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with other like-minded people and organizations that are advocating for refugees through your social media channels. Look on Twitter for the latest updates on the #RefugeeCrisis.

6. SUPPORT REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES: Let Capitol Hill know this issue matters to you and we need to do more together. Support organizations such as Migration and Refugee Services and your local Catholic Charities. You can also volunteer to help refugees in your own area through local refugee resettlement centers.

7. PUSH FOR PEACE: Remember that until the bloodshed stops in their homelands, these refugees will continue to live in limbo. Until people have economic opportunities, they will travel to security for themselves and their families. Pope Paul VI said "Development is the new name for peace." So become an advocate for peace and development because 17 is too many years to lose.

Additional Information:
For additional resources on the Syrian refugee crisis and World Refugee Day, click here.

Follow Catholic Relief Services on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CRSNews

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