'Refugees making the best out of dire situations'

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Before World Refugee Day, CGTN Digital editor interviewed Liu Yiqiang (Michael) by e-mail, secretary general and founder of Common Future, dedicated to providing help for Syrian refugee children, youths and women.

Michael Liu, who has visited refugee camps many times, shares his experience and thoughts.

CGTN: How many times have you been to refugee camps?

Michael Liu (Liu): I have been to refugee camps many times. My first visit was to Germany in October 2015. My latest visit was in February 2018, when I was in Lebanon and Jordan.

August 2017: Michael Liu with refugees in Lebanon. /Photo courtesy of Common Future

CGTN: Could you share your experience?

Liu: After both desk research and on-site visit, we (the Common Future Fund) learned that the majority of Syrian refugees are still in the neighboring countries, namely in Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan. Therefore, we tried to work in those places.

Refugee camps in Mafraq, of Northern Jordan, Bekaa Valley of Lebanon and Nizip of Turkey are quite large.

I also want to point out the vast majority of refugees are living in the urban setting, and only 10 percent of them live in camps. In every place I’ve traveled, I tried to talk to as many people as possible, to help understand the situation there.

CGTN: What does the word ‘refugee’ mean to you before your first visit? What about now?

Liu: Previously, I pictured refugees as those who desperately needed help and were in severe living conditions. Now, I’d take refugees as an ordinary people who fled their own country, and more often than not, they have their own lives going on despite all the difficulties.

Like all of us, they are trying their best to get the best out of dire situations.

CGTN: Which visit has impressed you most?

August 2017: Liu with a refugee child in the suburb of Amman, Jordan. /Photo courtesy of Common Future

Liu: It is my second visit to Turkey in June 2016. It was during the Ramadan season. My guide, a young Muslim lady, explained to me that, during Ramadan, Muslim people are fasting during the day in memory of those who are still in poverty. She took me to a few places and interpreted for me on a very hot day.

CGTN: What's the big difference between people living a normal life and a refugee?

Liu: People living normal lives can plan future at their will. But for refugees, they don’t know where their future led to and what they can do.

We have right to work, to get a proper education, while their rights to work and education are limited. Yet, like the rest of human beings, they are struggling to get through difficult times, with great courage.

CGTN: What does it mean for people who have fled homeland?

Liu: A whole set of unpredictable situation. It basically means that they have to rebuild their lives in a brand new situation, with virtually nothing.

CGTN: It is always said that returning to the homeland is a way to solve refugee issues. What difficulties do they face after returning home?

Liu: They will still face a new life. Homeland has been destroyed in many cases. Also, there might be continuous security concerns.

CGTN: A very large proportion of refugees are women and children. How has the reality made the situation complicated?

Liu: Men are lost at war. Women are the ones who carry on living.

Women are usually short of income possibilities to sustain their life and children are lack of care and education. This could result in different layers of problems. For example, they often become vulnerable to violence.

CGTN: What’s your plan recently?

Liu: We launched a series of campaigns in June, having invited those who work with refugees to share their experience, and organized refugee film exhibition.

We are to launch a marathon in August to raise money for refugees. We are trying to make more people get to know the issue properly and get engaged.

(Cover: Michael Liu is with orphans from Syria, June 2017. /Photo courtesy of Common Future)