Syrian and Iraqi immigrants getting off a boat from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos
In order to fully understand the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Germany, the paths those people took to reach Germany must be understood. Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have fled Syria following the growing instability of the region due to civil war and sectarian violence. They left Syria by whatever means could, often heading towards Europe. Such was the case for Ruba, a Syrian refugee who eventually settled in Hamburg, Germany with her young daughter. Their Journeys were documented by NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk), known as Northern German Broadcasting in English. Their stories were shared through the OpenEyesOpenHearts project, where refugees share their stories with schoolchildren in order to promote understanding of refugees’ situations. The article showcases the efforts made by many germans to humanize and sympathize with the stories of refugees fleeing to Germany.
Die Überfahrt wird Ruba nie vergessen. Schleuser haben an der türkischen Küste mehr als 40 Flüchtlinge in ein winziges Boot gepfercht, darunter viele Kinder. In völliger Dunkelheit geht es übers Meer. Alle schreien, Ruba hat Todesangst, denn das Boot füllt sich mit Wasser. Doch dann ist der sichere Hafen erreicht – die Küste Griechenlands. “Wir wollten einfach leben”, sagt Ruba. In ihrer Heimat Syrien fühlte sich die junge Frau schon lange nicht mehr sicher. Als Bomben die Häuser in ihrer Straße zerstören, beginnt die Flucht, die vier Jahre später in Hamburg endet.
Translation:
Ruba will never forget the crossing. Smugglers crammed more than 40 refugees, with many children among them, on a tiny boat on the coast of Turkey. In complete darkness it crossed the sea. Everyone was crying and Ruba was mortified as the boat filled with water. But then safe haven is reached- the Greek coast.”We just wanted to live” said Ruba. In her homeland of Syria she no longer felt safe. When bombs destroy the houses on her street, her flight begins, ending four years later in Hamburg.
Ruba’s story is similar to many others’. They left Syria fleeing violence, looking for safety for themselves and their families.Another Refugee, Mohammad, when asked his opinion on life in Hamburg, said “”Man kann freier Meinung sein und sagen, was man denkt.” One can be of free opinion and say what they think.
With numerous perspectives on refugees in Germany, from politicians to citizens, the perspectives of the refugees themselves cannot be overlooked. North German Broadcasting, by sharing these stories and the OpenEyesOpenHeart project, clearly seeks to garner support and sympathy for refugees in Germany. NDR is a German publication that primarily serves a German audience.
George Horowitz