Iraqi refugees stuck in limbo
“We were trapped.” Saeed’s voice grew quiet as he recalled the months he spent inside ISIS-controlled Mosul. “We didn’t have any chance to flee because ISIS besieged us, [leaving] no safe exit,” he said. Mosul used to be home to more than 2 million people — many...
A special announcement from the Syrian border
This week, I’ve seen the needs of refugees firsthand, and I am convinced they need our help now more than ever before. So many of them have told me they are terrified to return home … or they have nothing to return home to. They desperately need supplies to survive...
From the Field | A better future for Syria’s children
No matter where in the world I travel, one of the things I most look forward to is interacting with children. Even in the middle of unimaginable circumstances, it seems like boys and girls can always find something to smile about. The sound of a child’s laughter in a...
From the Field | A lifeline for refugees
Usually I dread going to a doctor’s office. But this time, I didn’t mind. Our team is on the ground at the Syrian border this week, and one of our first stops was the Mercy Medical Clinic. We stepped into the crowded waiting room to find dozens of patients — mostly...
Life as a 6-year-old refugee: Adnan’s story
March 15, 2011: The Syrian civil war began. Dec. 31, 2011: A boy was born in the midst of the chaos. Sept. 26, 2017: This now 6-year-old boy wakes up to another day of the only life he has ever known — the life of a refugee. For his safety, we’ll call him Adnan. When...
Every day, I try to live my life in such a way that I accomplish at least one thing that will outlive me and last for eternity.