For immediate release,
September, 2015:
As Syrian Refugees are still suffering displacement from one country to another, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohamed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, has urgently called the Arab leaders and officials to put an end to the Syrian refugee crisis.
The migration of Syrian and Iraqi refugees to the neighbouring countries in search of security, shelter, food, health, education, and job opportunities is a result of the prolonged war at home. Her Highness stressed the importance of unifying the efforts of all Arab states to spread hope for a new life in the hearts of all refugees, Her Highness stressed on collaboration and said “ The only solution to the crisis of Syrian refugees lies in collaborative efforts by the international community to end the painful conflict in their country, which causes them to flee, lose homes and a living, as we have seen in recent situations, where they’ve lost their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Societies and leaders should cooperate with each other and work together and focus on a unified approach so we can reach a speedy resolution to this crisis.”
“ We need to work together to keep refugees close to their homes in neighboring countries and provide all the necessary support to these host countries so when there is peace they can return to their homes. Otherwise, when fleeing the terror they face at home, they travel further with hope of finding refuge but instead they find dangers of different kinds. Keeping refugees in countries that share borders with their home country encourages them to return and participate in the reconstruction. It also keeps them close to their Arab and Muslim heritage and mitigates some of the dangers faced when attempting further distances. Encouraging people to migrate is not a solution but on the contrary it deepens the problem by emptying the country of its own people who are needed to rebuild. When people are forced to leave their country, that nation’s living history is obscured and the shared history of generations is lost”, Her Highness added.
The Syrian refugees put their lives and their children’s lives at risk by trying to migrate to Europe, this is due to the lack of basic needs in the neighboring countries. Her Highness emphasized the need for urgent aid, “The Refugees feel such despair because they do not believe that there is a solution to the crisis and this is why they put their lives in danger in hope to secure a better future for their children. We should work for the future of these children and be aware of the need to provide them with protection and rights that go beyond fundamental human rights, but also include psychological stability and build confidence in themselves after the shattering experiences they have endured. We are sure that these countries will overcome this suffering and I wish that all UN member states, especially in the MENA and all media, educational institutions and humanitarian organizations around the world work with a single aim of making lives better for the refugees and to bring peace to the region.”
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher al Qasimi, known as the Big Heart, said “UAE has always been at the forefront of humanitarian aid and has always stood by the oppressed and people in need by providing a decent life for them, whether in their own countries, or on its territories, by offering them opportunities to work and live. UAE has been a beacon of hope due to its humanitarian work because it takes this action from its Arab-Islamic values and humanitarian conscience.
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, was honoured by “Beirut Institute Summit” that was held in Abu Dhabi in October 2015 in recognition of her humanitarian work.