Terrifying violence and economic hardship in the Middle East have forced a growing number of Syrians and other refugees to seek shelter in other parts of the world. As of last year, 59 million people were displaced, more than half of them children.
Yale responded to this crisis this week by convening a forum of Yale and non-Yale experts to discuss the many facets of the problem and to brainstorm solutions. The forum’s goal was to compile a list of members of the Yale community interested in remaining engaged in activities related to the effort and to generate a plan of action for assistance.
Monday’s forum was organized by Jim Leckman, the Neison Harris Professor in the Child Study Center and professor of pediatrics; Angelica Ponguta, M.P.H. ’09, associate research scientist at the Child Study Center; and Kaveh Khoshnood, associate professor at the School of Public Health. The Global Health Leadership Institute, the McMillan Center and the UNICEF chapter at Yale also assisted.
Despite the far reach of the refugee crisis, forum organizers focused on its implications for children, because, as Child Study Center Professor Kyle Pruett said, “Our belief is that children start off well, and our job is to keep them well.” One of the biggest challenges refugee children face, he said, is the language barrier. Then, because children typically learn English faster than their parents, they are thrust into the role of family interpreter and navigator, often before they are mature enough to assume that responsibility.
YSPH alumnus Unni Karunakara, M.P.H. ’95, former international president of Doctors Without Borders and now a senior fellow at the Jackson Institute, jolted panelists’ attention when he mentioned the airstrike last week on the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, that killed 19 people. He added that thousands of humanitarian care workers have also been killed in other, unrelated incidents.
Karunakara urged the audience and panelists to push for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United States signed it in 1995, but never ratified it. That means it endorses the principles, but is not legally bound by it.
Our belief is that children start off well, and our job is to keep them well.
Dr. Kyle Pruitt
The panelists agreed that the refugees who come to the United States are the “lucky ones,” because they tend to be welcomed into the community and language training, early childhood education and health care are available. “Every community wants to help refugees,” said Christopher George, executive director of IRIS, the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven.
Still, the panelists agreed that more needs to be done. Recommendations included providing more leadership training on managing conflict and working together harmoniously across disciplines. The panelists agreed that the child’s experience is different from an adult’s and it’s one they’ll carry it with them for the rest of their lives.
The other panelists were Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF’s director of programs and director and senior advisor on the Post-2015 Development Agenda; Ayla Goskel, CEO of the Mother and Child Foundation; and Katie Murphy, early childhood development technical advisor at the International Rescue Committee.
The forum was held in the Henry Luce Hall Auditorium. Attendees were urged to stay involved in ongoing communications/activities, including Yale’s participation in an emerging Global Early Childhood Peace-building Consortium.