Why We Speak: Help Spread Refugee Stories

3 Generations is working to bring attention to the more than 70 million people across the globe who have been forced to flee their homes. The spread of COVID-19 is worsening the already fragile and vulnerable situation for refugees across the world. Many displaced people live in camps in countries with food scarcity and weakened healthcare infrastructures. As governments tighten restrictions in these regions because of the pandemic, aid organizations struggle to provide help.  

Governments have closed their borders and limited the flow of critical food and medical supplies. As a result, food supplies that are accessible have more than doubled in price, leaving the country’s poorer populations, which include refugees, with limited access to food. As COVID-19 continues to affect the supply chains, the World Food Programme predicts that the pandemic could double the number of people facing acute hunger, bringing the number from 135 million to 265 million by the end of 2020. 

Aid workers have warned of a potential humanitarian disaster if there is a significant outbreak in any of the many refugee camps around the world. At many camps, there are tens of thousands of people living closely packed together. Camp health facilities are too small and lack staff, while people in the camps do not have enough soap and water or living space to protect themselves. Refugee camps have shared water and hygiene facilities such as toilets, showers, and faucets resulting in long lines and unavoidable unsanitary conditions. Without efforts to increase health care access, improve sanitation, isolate suspected cases, and decongest camps, the disease will devastate the refugee and local populations that surround them.

The stories of today’s refugees encompass every human rights issue we are dedicated to documenting at 3 Generations. We have been recording stories of refugees since 2013 when we began documenting the experiences of Syrians fleeing civil war. Since then we have expanded our efforts by producing short films on Tibetans fleeing Chinese oppression and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. We continue to work on this urgent issue and are in the process of completing post-production on three short documentaries about Yazidi women forced into slavery by ISIS. For more information about our refugee work please visit our website.