In the fifth year of the Syrian civil war, more than 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives and more than 11 million people have fled their homes. The city of Aleppo in Syria remains under siege and rebel areas are being bombarded daily by warplanes, killing hundreds of people. The cease-fire between the Russian supported Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and the U.S. backed rebel groups collapsed. There was a deadly attack on a humanitarian convoy, which led to the United Nations halting aid to Syria. In addition to aerial attacks, there are ground offensives, and the water supply was cut off to the opposition-held half of the city. Listen to hear more about the escalation of fighting in Syria.
Read MoreInsight into the Refugee Experience
More than 65 million people around the world have been forced to leave their homes. These refugees are fleeing violence, persecution and natural disasters in their countries. The journey is often dangerous. Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian aid organization, created an exhibit to help Americans understand what it’s like to be a refugee. Listen to hear how visitors reacted to this experience.
Read MoreWhat New Refugees Need to Learn About Living in the U.S.
Refugees are people forced to leave their home country when it is no longer safe. They start new lives in places that usually have different languages, cultures, and practices from where they lived. When refugees arrive in the United States, they need to learn new customs and adapt to their surroundings while trying to find a job and a begin a new life. Some people have never used a refrigerator or cooked some of the food found in American grocery stores. Listen to this story about how some refugees are learning the skills needed to get through everyday life.
Read MoreHelping Refugees Adapt to U.S. Culture
Refugees arriving in the United States typically get 3 months of government funded support. It’s often not enough time to adjust and learn everything from navigating the medical system to finding transportation and a job. One teacher in Virginia started a non-profit to connect refugees with people in the community to help them adjust to a new country and culture. Listen to hear more about this program.
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | November 27, 2018
Renowned author Khaled Hosseini, who wrote The Kite Runner and other novels about Afghanistan, has written a new short illustrated book called Sea Prayer about the Syrian refugee crisis. The book takes the form of a letter from a father to a son, describing his memories of their homeland before war forced them to leave. Listen to the author read excerpts and explain why he wrote the book.
Story Length: 6:51
© 2018 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
09/19/2018
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/1257-sea-prayer-for-syrian-refugees
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