Atlas Relief and Development International

2 weeks ago

How Does It Feel To Be a Refugee in Istanbul, Turkey, and Paris, France?

#ARDI is dedicated to working to help shed light on the challenges, needs, and experiences of #refugees in #Turkey and #Europe to amplify their news and developments of their lives and to strive to find appropriate and effective solutions to the social and development-related problems, challenges, and difficulties they face.

In Turkey itself, ARDI is working with local civil society organizations and with the support of international governmental donors to lead projects focused on the integration of #Syrian refugees and cross-cultural integration among Turkish and Syrians. All our programmatic efforts are led by ARDI’s own team which consists mostly of refugee staff who have their own unique experiences and stories.

Through this series, we are asking Syrian refugee members of the ARDI team a few questions about their personal perspectives to draw attention to their refugee experience:

Q1. IN THREE WORDS, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A REFUGEE IN ISTANBUL OR EUROPE?

- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Safe but handcuffed.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Struggling and fearing.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in France, Male): “Safe, stable, and reassuring.”

Q2. WHAT ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT HOST COMMUNITIES CAN DO TO HELP REFUGEES FEEL MORE WELCOME AND SAFER?

- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Understand their weakness and needs, be humans, deal with them exactly like you want the others to deal with you.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Stop racism. Stop exploitation. Give love.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Europe / France, Male): “Help them integrate into society, accept their culture, and stop racism.”

Q3. WHAT ARE THE THREE MAIN CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN ISTANBUL OR EUROPE?

- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Inability to control freely due to state restrictions, difficulty in obtaining employment legally and instability.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male):
“Difficulties obtaining legal recognition and personal documents, difficulty in accessing quality learning, education, and skills-building opportunities, discrimination, racism, xenophobia.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Europe / France, Male): “Difficulty integrating into society due to the different culture, Islamophobia.”

Q4. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF REFUGEES IN EUROPE OR TURKEY AND HOW CAN BRIDGES BE BUILT TOWARDS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING?

- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Spreading awareness among the host community and finding solutions for the refugees’ problems, so that they do not appear to be abusive in front of the host community.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Through education, awareness campaigns and community integration programs.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Europe / France, Male): "There are many active integration programs in Europe, but the most important thing remains to direct the media positively towards foreign immigrants, in general."

Q5. WHAT ARE THE BEST CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOST COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN?

- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Moderate, emotional society.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Istanbul, Male): “Very emotional, Very social, Patriotism, Dynamic, Hard workers.”
- ARDI Team Member (Syrian refugee in Europe / France, Male): “Social solidarity, humanity respecting others, respect the laws, and creativity.”

We encourage people to be better, #neighbors, #friends, and #community members and to speak to refugees and learn about their unique stories.

If you are also a refugee, how would YOU answer these questions? Leave us a comment below with any answers you want to share!
Learn more about ARDI: www.atlasrdi.com

#WithRefugees #RefugeesWelcome #StandWithRefuge #SyrianRefugee #IstanbulRefugees #SyrianConflict ... See MoreSee Less

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Atlas Relief and Development International

2 weeks ago

Happy International Nelson Mandela Day! Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity — as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free #SouthAfrica without #apartheid. We at ARDI are not only inspired, but empowered by his actions to continue to implement #peace in all parts of the world.

International Nelson Mandela Day marks a day for action. Here at #ARDI, we’re empowering civilians affected by #conflict and local #civilsociety organizations with the knowledge, skills, and tools to actively shape and participate in a peaceful and democratic future for all. Our ongoing efforts include emphasizing the support, empowerment, and capacity of marginalized and displaced populations, minorities, women, and youth in conflict-affected areas.

We know there are many heroic people in the world like #NelsonMandela that are making positive change in the world, and want to help amplify these stories! We encourage you to share in the comments more about the efforts that you, your organization, or someone that inspires you are doing locally or internationally and we’ll highlight some of their initiatives or stories in an upcoming post to our community!

This year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is focusing its Mandela Day efforts on education, food, and nutrition. Check out www.mandeladay.com to learn how you can join, initiate social change, and gain access to resources!

You can also learn more about ARDI’s ongoing efforts through our website: atlasrdi.com/

#NelsonMandelaDay #HumanRights #Peace #Justice ... See MoreSee Less

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Atlas Relief and Development International

1 month ago

بحسب #الهيئة_الطبية_الشرعية_السورية، تم تسجيل أكثر من 50 حالة #انتحار منذ بداية هذا العام، ونسبة حالات الانتحار بين #الذكور في سوريا تبلغ ضعف المعدلات بين #الإناث. وبحسب ما صرح به مدير الهيئة العامة للطب الشرعي، زاهر حاجو، لإذاعة "المدينة"، “من بين حالات الانتحار، 13 حالة تتعلق بأشخاص تقل أعمارهم عن 18 سنة، ثمانية منهم من الإناث. ووجدت الدراسة أيضًا أن هناك ميلًا لأن تكون أساليب الانتحار أكثر #عدوانية بين #النساء”

ارتفاع عدد المنتحرين الذين كشفتهم مصادر حكومية في النظام السوري "جاءت نتيجة لانهيار الناس نتيجة #للصراع وعدم قدرة المواطنين السوريين على التعامل مع #الأزمة_الاقتصادية الشديدة التي شهدتها البلاد مؤخرًا". بحسب #علماء_النفس_السوريين ، "بمجرد أن يشعر الشخص بفقدان الاستقرار المادي ، يمكنه أن يعاني من عدم الاستقرار النفسي"

أدى تدهور الأوضاع المعيشية للمواطنين السوريين (خاصة #الشباب)، إلى جانب ما يحرّمه المجتمع حول البحث عن دعم من #الطب_العقلي أو #النفسي في الخدمات الصحية في سوريا التي تقدم الدعم، إلى تفاقم التحديات النفسية وتؤدي إلى آثار شديدة على الصحة العقلية.

في الآونة الأخيرة، تسبب الانتحار المأساوي لشاب في حي بستان القصر في مدينة #حلب بصدمة نفسية، ودفع الكثير من الناس للتحدث على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي. وفقًا لتعليقات العديد من الأشخاص، فإن التحديات المتعلقة بظروف المعيشة السيئة، والتفاوتات الاجتماعية والاقتصادية، وتأثيرات الصراع قد تسببت في إغلاق العديد من الأشخاص لرغبتهم في الحياة - وبالتالي جعل بعض الناس يشعرون أن الانتحار هو خيارهم الوحيد للهروب من الألم واليأس.

الهيئة الطبية الشرعية السورية لم تبلغ عن هذه الحوادث رسمياً لكنها أعلنت أنها سجلت أكثر من 50 حالة انتحار منذ بداية هذا العام عندما سجلت محافظة حلب أعلى نسبة انتحار، تستثني الاحصائية مدن إدلب والرقة ودير الزور والحسكة، لأنهم خارج سيطرة النظام السوري. ومع ذلك، نظرًا لأن الانتحار هو موضوع من المحرمات في الثقافة المحلية، فلا يتم إبلاغ السلطات رسميًا عن العديد من هذه الحوادث، لذلك من المحتمل أن يكون هناك المزيد من الحالات التي لم يتم التعرف عليها كحالات انتحار.

هناك العديد من الأسباب التي تجعل بعض الأشخاص يصلون إلى مرحلة الانتحار. كل ظرف مختلف ويمكن أن ينجم عن تحديات أو تأثيرات خارجية أو داخلية مختلفة. بالنسبة للعديد من الناس، يمكن أن يؤدي التراكم والضغوط التي ينتجها الواقع إلى فقدان مشاعر الكرامة، واحترام الذات، أو تحديات الحياة التي يمكن أن تشعر بثقلها الشديد. وبحسب الطبيب النفسي عمار بيطار، "يختلف الأفراد في تحملهم للضغط النفسي وقدرتهم على التعامل معه لمواجهة هذه التراكمات".

حاليًا في سوريا، كمثال، يعاني الكثير من الناس من عدم القدرة على تلبية احتياجات عوائلهم في ضوء ارتفاع الأسعار التي تشهدها الأسواق السورية، ونقص الخدمات الاجتماعية والصحية، والمخاوف الأمنية التي تؤثر على سلامة المجتمع. بالنسبة للأشخاص الذين يعانون من هذه القضايا المحددة، يمكن أن يحدث الاكتئاب، مما قد يؤدي إلى العزلة عن المجتمع والبؤس والإحباط ولوم الذات.

بالنسبة للسوريين الآخرين ، ولا سيما النساء والفتيات، تسبب جائحة فيروس كورونا في ارتفاع معدل العنف الداخلي خلال فترة الحجر الصحي. يمكن للعنف المنزلي (الذي يمكن عرضه بأشكال عديدة، بما في ذلك العنف الجسدي والعقلي والجنسي) أن يولد تأثيرات نفسية للضحايا - من الإناث والذكور. بالنسبة للنساء ضحايا العنف المنزلي من العنف القائم على النوع الاجتماعي (#GBV)، أفادت العديد من النساء بأنهن يشعرن بالدونية تجاه أنفسهن، وغير آمنات في منازلهن، محاصرات في حياتهن، وغير قادرات على ممارسة حقوقهن أو متابعة أهدافهن. في بعض الأحيان، يمكن أن تتسبب هذه الآلام في انتحار الضحايا عندما لا يجدون الدعم أو الموارد أو الخدمات أو الفهم الذي يحتاجونه.

بما أن مشاكل الصحة النفسية/العقلية هي مشكلة حقيقية في مجتمعنا السوري والتي لا يتم التحدث عنها علانية في كثير من الأحيان، فإن إحدى الطرق الأولى لمعالجة المحرمات حول الدعم النفسي والاجتماعي وخفض الانتحار، هي دعم ورعاية الأشخاص الذين يعانون من اضطرابات نفسية بشكل علني من خلال الحديث عن هذه المشاكل داخل الأسرة والمجتمع بطرق لا تخجل الناس. إذا كان بإمكان مجتمعنا البدء في تطبيع خدمات الصحة العقلية وتشجيع دعم الأسرة للأشخاص الذين يعانون من صحتهم العقلية، فيمكننا بناء التماسك المجتمعي والحد من انتشار الانتحار.

تحتاج مجتمعاتنا أيضًا إلى إعطاء الأولوية لفتح المنظمات الصحية التي تشمل عيادات الطب النفسي والمراكز الطبية المتخصصة التي تركز على رعاية الصحة النفسية. ستكون هذه الخدمات مهمة للغاية لمستقبل سوريا للمساعدة في إعادة تأهيل مجتمعاتنا التي عانت من آثار النزاع والصدمات الأخرى التي تسببت في آثار على صحتهم العقلية ورفاهيتهم. هناك حاجة إلى مزيد من الاهتمام بهذه القضية حتى لا تتفاقم هذه الظاهرة الحالية وتتحول إلى أزمة كبيرة في المجتمع السوري.

في منظمة أرضي, نعمل على دعم الصحة العقلية للمجتمعات المحلية من خلال شراكات مع منظمات المجتمع التي تقدم خدمات الدعم النفسي والاجتماعي للأشخاص المتأثرين بالصراع. قم بزيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت لمعرفة المزيد عن عملنا: www.atlasrdi.com

يمكنك معرفة المزيد عن الصحة النفسية في سوريا هنا: bit.ly/2NTZ7IB

According to #SyrianForensicMedicalAuthority, more than 50 suicides have been recorded since the beginning of this year and the proportion of #male suicides in Syria is twice as high as rates among #females. According to what was stated by the Director of the General Authority of Legal Medicine, Zahir Hajo, for “Al-Madinah” Radio, among cases of suicides, 13 cases involved people under the age of 18, eight of whom were females. The study also found that there was a tendency for suicide methods to be more aggressive among #women.

Rising #suiciderates revealed by ٍSyrian Regime governmental sources ‘come as a result of the collapse of the nation as a result of #conflict and the inability of Syrian citizens to deal with the severe #economiccrisis that the country has witnessed recently’. According to Syrian #psychologists, ‘as soon as a person feels a loss of material #stability, he or she can experience psychological instability”.

The deterioration of stable living situations for Syrian citizens (especially #youth), combined with cultural taboos around seeking mental health support in Syria health services that provide support, have exacerbated psychological challenges and are leading to severe impacts on mental health.

Recently, the tragic #suicide of a young man in the Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhood in the city of #Aleppo caused shocked people and prompted many people to speak out on social media. According to many people's comments, challenges related to poor living conditions, social and economic disparities, and the impacts of conflict have caused many people to close the doors on their desire for life - and therefore making some people feel that suicide is their only option to escape pain and despair.

The #SyrianGeneralMedicalAuthority does not report these incidents officially but did announce that it has recorded more than 50 suicides since the beginning of this year when the governorate of Aleppo recorded the highest suicide rate, with the exception of the statistics, Idlib, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and Hasaka, as they are outside the control of the Syrian regime. However, as suicide is a very taboo subject in the local culture, many such incidents are not officially reported to authorities, so there are likely more cases that have not been recognized as suicide cases.

There are many reasons why different people reach the stage of committing suicide. Every circumstance is different and can be caused by different external or internal challenges or influences. For many people, the accumulations and pressures produced by reality can lead to a loss of feelings of dignity, self-esteem, or the challenges of the world that can feel too heavy to bear. According to Psychiatrist Ammar Bitar, “Individuals differ in their tolerance of psychological pressure and their ability to deal with it to face these accumulations.”

Currently in Syria, as an example, many people are struggling with the inability l to provide for his or her #family’s needs in light of the high prices witnessed by the Syrian markets, the lack of social and health services, and the security concerns that impact the safety of the community. For people struggling with these particular issues, depression can occur, which can lead to isolation from society, misery, frustration, and self-blame.

For other Syrians, particularly women and girls, the current global health pandemic #COVID19 has caused a rise in #domesticviolence during the #quarantine period. Domestic violence (which can be exhibited in many forms, including physical, mental, and sexual violence) can generate psychological effects for victims - both female and male. For female victims of domestic violence of gender-based violence (#GBV), many women report feeling inferior towards themselves, unsafe in their own homes, trapped in their lives, and unable to exercise their rights or pursue their goals. Sometimes, these pains can cause victims to commit suicide when they do not find the support, resources, services, or understanding that they need.

As mental health issues are a real issue in our Syrian community that often does not get spoken about openly, one of the first ways to address the taboos around psychosocial support and decreasing suicide, is to openly support and care about people struggling with mental disorders by talking about these problems within the family and community in ways that do not shame people. If our community can start to normalize mental health services and encourage family support to people struggling with their mental health, we can build community cohesion and reduce the prevalence of suicides.

Our communities also need to prioritize the opening of health organizations that include psychiatric clinics and specialized medical centers focused on mental health care. These services will be very important for the future of Syria to help rehabilitate our communities who have suffered the impact of conflict and other traumas that have caused impacts of their mental health and wellbeing. Increased attention on this issue is needed so this existing phenomenon does not worsen and turn into a major crisis in Syrian society.

At ARDI, we work to support local communities’ mental health through partnerships with community organizations providing psychosocial support services to people impacted by conflict. Visit our website to learn more about our work: www.atlasrdi.com

You can learn more about mental health in Syria here: bit.ly/2NTZ7IB ... See MoreSee Less

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