THEY COME FROM AFRICA, Central Asia, the Middle East and Ukraine. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2022 more than 100 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes by war, famine, natural disasters or persecution. They flee with the few possessions they are able to carry, their lives suddenly in limbo.
What happens to them? Some 4.5 million find sanctuary in United Nations– sanctioned refugee camps; at least two million are in ‘self-settled' camps; and countless others shelter in foreign cities—rooms in hotels and community centres, or basic apartments from where they try to launch new lives.
A lucky few are welcomed into private homes, sharing space with people who want to help, often for a few months. Refugees receive government stipends, to be used for food and other necessities until they can find jobs and become self-supporting; some hosts also receive monthly payments (or sometimes money for rent and expenses from the refugees) to help defray the cost of having guests.
Hosting has its challenges, such as navigating cultural differences and the stresses of daily life that come from living with strangers. But the rewards can be profound.
“She Is Just Like a Mom”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
From the King's Table to Street Food: A Food History of Delhi
Pushpesh Pant, one of India’s pre-eminent food writers, is back with a comprehensive food history of the capital.
Who Wants Coffee?
It’s bitter—but beloved around the world
Prevent The Pain Of Shingles
You don't have to suffer, as long as you take two important steps
The Best And Worst Diets For Your Heart
Dozens of diets are touted as ‘best’, but it’s easy to lose track of the fact that healthy eating needs to be about overall wellness, not just weight loss.
ME & MY SHELF
Journalist Sopan Joshi has worked in a science and environment framework for nearly three decades. His book Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango (Aleph Book Company) synthesizes the sensory appeal of India's favourite fruit with its elaborate cultural roots and natural history. He writes in English and Hindi.
SWITCHED
In 1962, nurses at a small Canadian hospital sent home two women with the wrong babies. Then, 50 years later, their children discovered the shocking mistake.
ECHOES OF THE PAST
A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT BARABAR CAVES IN BIHAR REVEALS A SURPRISING CONNECTION TO A LITERARY CLASSIC
Fathers of the Bride
A young woman finds a unique way to honour the many men who helped her survive her childhood
Fiction's Foresight
British-Bangladeshi author Manzu Islam's works reveal startling parallels to recent political upheavals in Bangladesh, begging the question: Besides helping us make sense of our world, can stories also offer a glimpse into the future?
It Happens ONLY IN INDIA
The Divine Defence Picture this: A tractor in Rajasthan‘s Banswara district,a group of loan agents closing in to seize it and the defaulting farmer and his family standing by.
