A young
refugee (under 18) showed up at the Oasis and without German or English was
asking for food and a place to sleep. My
first thoughts after such requests, is “Why do they need these things?”. Without language in common, I was unable to
determine why. Because he was asking for
a place to sleep, I recognized, he needed more long term help than I could
give. Why was he not in the regular
refugee camp? I don’t know.
I walked him
to another local organization who helps refugees who are not accepted into the
local refugee camp. I told the workers
what I could understand. They made a
couple phone calls and determined he had chosen not to show up when he was
supposed to be transferred to a place where he would have a place to live/food
and get to go to school. Why did he miss
these transfer opportunities? I
don’t know.
The social
workers phoned another person who spoke Pashtu, the language of this young man. Through the interpreter, they explained he
needed to be in front of the camp tomorrow morning and would be transferred to
a place where he could live and go to school.
As the social worker was asking me if he could stay overnight at the
Oasis, the guy walked outside with his friend.
We can occasionally help people
like this, but usually only for one night.
The social
worker explained that she would print a letter for this refugee to use in the
morning to help explain his situation to the officials. Just then another social worker came back
inside and said the guy left. I went
outside and looked up and down the street and couldn’t see him anywhere. Where did he go? I don’t know.
Did he know
we were going to find a place for him to stay overnight? I don’t know.
Will he show
up tomorrow morning at 8:00 for the transfer?
I don’t know.
If he
chooses to miss that transfer, what will he do for food, a home and a future? I don’t know.
What was
going through the mind of this young teenager as he walked away from those who
were trying to help him?
I wish
I knew.
Dan Lincoln
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