COVID-19 has Kansas City refugees uncertain, but they’ve proven their resilience

With the world gripped by the ever-increasing numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a segment of the population made up of people who are many times forgotten by the general public: refugees.

Historically, the refugee population in Kansas City has grown by an estimated 500 per year. It is no easy road to get here. After enduring horrific circumstances to be labeled as refugees in the first place, the State Department estimated in 2016 that they had to endure an average processing time of 18 to 24 months to be admitted into the United States — and that waiting period has only grown under the Trump administration.

Once refugees arrive in Kansas City, the process does not get much easier. They are generally resettled in the Historic Northeast, an area plagued by crime and drugs. They receive minimal government support, but there are amazing agencies that offer further assistance — Jewish Vocational Services, The Don Bosco Centers, Della Lamb Community Services and RefugeKC, to name a few.

Refugees struggle to learn the language, find work, shop for groceries and more. Now there is the coronavirus to add to that struggle. Many are worried about what they will do just days to weeks from now, when they are completely out of money. Muhammad Hashim, a refugee from Burma who has lived here for two years, told me that life in Kansas City is better than in the country he fled. Yet now, being out of work, running out of money and in fear of losing the home he shares with his brother, he just wishes “the coronavirus would go away and all the bans would stop. This way, we can start life again.”

Hashim is not alone in that sentiment. Mohammad Hasan, a refugee from Sudan who works for the Don Bosco Senior Center — which is currently waiting to reopen — says he is worried about not having an income at the end of this month or beyond. Yet, as important as finances are, they are not the only thing worrying Hasan now. “The loneliness is hard, and the social life here in America is hard,” he said.

For individuals coming from very communal and interconnected cultures, the social autonomy and individuality of America is already a shock. Now, more doors are closed to people who are already culturally shell-shocked and lonely. Rich Casebolt, founder of the Christian organization RefugeKC, said he is worried about what he’s been hearing from the refugees. They are mentioning their loneliness, depression, isolation and — coming from areas where they have faced this reality — their fear of societal breakdown.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. Americans can learn much from our new neighbors. Jewish Vocational Services’ Martin Okpareke says his organization is still offering basic services to clients, and the general public would do well to consider their perseverance. “One thing that (people) should know is that the refugees by nature are very resilient,” he said. “Most people would not survive what they have been through already. This, too, will pass. It will be challenging for them, but when push comes to shove, the resilience of refugees will always come into play.”

Casebolt shares Okpareke’s outlook. Both work among refugees daily, and both see the strength of these tenacious humans.

There is a lot of change in the world now, and a lot of worry accompanying that change. However, may we not forget our neighbors, even if they are from other areas of the world. And may we draw from their resilience to persevere through these extreme trials and continue on toward better days.

If you find yourself in a good financial position during this pandemic and economic crisis, consider donating to one of the organizations that help refugees in our city. They will undoubtedly make an impact on this forgotten community during its dire time of need.

Joe Stewart is a freelance writer who works with refugees in the U.S. and overseas.

This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "COVID-19 has Kansas City refugees uncertain, but they’ve proven their resilience."