Fire Flashbacks

No one can speak the truth about the tragic experience of being displaced, better than someone who was, or currently is, a displaced person. Human displacement isn’t just a little inconvenient. When even one person is displaced, it shouldn’t be considered a minor problem. On September 9th, fires ravaged Camp Moria, Europe’s largest refugee camp. Now, 13,000 refugees are scattered on the streets, under the open sky. My own memories of a similar event left me speechless, as if my time of asylum-seeking was as recent as yesterday. Eight years ago, a good friend of mine died in a suspicious fire in Norway, while seeking asylum with his family, including a 3-year-old daughter. I have never told this story openly, even though it has left a wound, with which I must live daily. These feelings were further worsened by the current situation happening in my province back in DR Congo (South Kivu) near the village of Minembwe. Hundreds of villages in the area where I was born, were deliberately set on fire; the most recent village was burnt down the same day as Camp Moria. This remains one of the most tragic experiences I have ever had.

It is despicable for refugees to experience such a horrible trauma, while seeking safety. Unfortunately, in most cases, intervention from humanitarian aid groups comes too late to save the situation. It might be the same case with Camp Moria in Lesvos. The Congolese friend of mine, who fled from war and persecution in his home country, with the hope of finding safety in another one, lost his life by suffocating slowly in a fire. He was trying to save his family.

These memories of Moria refugee camp are devastating and traumatizing, based on my experience caused by the death of my friend. I didn’t realize a similar tragedy would happen to others displaced like me. This makes me choose to speak out, by making a call both to churches and humanitarian organizations, to stand against displacement and serve those who are displaced. This accomplishes God’s purpose, through the people on the move. But also, I am making an urgent call to support the helpless refugees, left empty handed and exposed to the existing threat of Covid-19.

Refugees face all kinds of tragedy, extreme violence and the worst human rights violations. Like persecution, drowning in the while trying to reach safety, and in extreme cases, exposed to the furnace of fire, like in Camp Moria. Why do many people, organizations and media remain indifferent, when fellow human beings are suffering? A lot of people didn't know about Moria before. Why should tragedy awaken people’s hearts while the human race is facing death? Why would attention on Moria refugees be drawn because of the fires?