Imagine for a moment

Thousand upon thousands of people are fleeing countries they call home, heading to 'safer pastures'. The reason the vast majority of these people are doing this is largely due to WAR, PERSECUTION and OPRESSION. Yes, these people are not leaving a relatively "ok" existence in their country for a life full of abundance abroad. These people are escaping horrific living conditions, hoping for a safe and secure future.

Imagine for a moment arriving at a relatively wealthy destination - Cyprus - and being treated less than human.

People from all over war-torn Middle East, and many African countries that are on the verge of civil war, are basically told "There is nothing we can do for you at the moment," by various government offices. It is sometimes a month before they have any meeting at the Aliens' and Immigration Unit, of the police, for their asylum application.

During this time, they are left to fend for themselves; without accommodation, without food. Nothing but the shirt on their back. There are a few NGOs with limited funding that are bending over backwards to offer temporary relief, in terms of coffee, something to eat and through conversation, trying to restore human dignity into their lives.

Imagine escaping war and oppression, only to be faced with different kinds of battles - cold, hunger, racial slurs, no hope and homelessness. This is the harsh reality that many of these unfortunate people face.

If we could only imagine, if we wore their shoes, how it feels to be without home or hope. Joseph and Jana will spend 24 hours without home, sleeping on the street in Nicosia, Cyprus, trying to see what it feels like, to be without a home, for only a short period of time.

Imagine for a moment this was you or someone in your family. A friend or someone you knew.

If you can, please contribute financially in support of the new refugees arriving on the island, so we can arrange, through CARITAS Cyprus, for a more welcoming start to their life in Cyprus and hopefully, also accommodation. Your generosity will go a long way in helping restore dignity in refugees' lives.

Apart from the fundraising efforts, we have also launched a petition, to raise awareness and confront the authorities, with regard to the fundamental difficulties asylum seekers face in their earliest weeks upon arrival. If you would like to support our cause, please sign the petition here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/525/486...