Wichita refugees speak out on World Refugee Day

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Thursday is World Refugee Day, a day to raise awareness for what refugees are facing around the world. An estimated 120 million people have been displaced from their home countries, according to the UNHCR, and that number increases each year.

The International Rescue Committee helps refugees get integrated into the community and adjust to life in America.

Machar Geu is from South Sudan, and he came to Wichita in February. He has lived nearly his entire life in a refugee camp in Kenya. He had to leave behind his child and wife at the camp, and he says it’s always in the back of his mind.

“The people they brought into the country are desperate people,” Geu said. “They have nowhere to go. They are pending in the refugee camp. They are facing a lot of challenges.”

“Arriving to America, it was like my best day,” Geu said. “I was feeling like I was born again to be in the USA. That was the beginning of my life, my future again. I feel most welcome.”

Nataliia Trafimovich is from Ukraine and came to Wichita about a year ago. She says everything here is different, from language to public transportation. She feels happy and safe here, but it’s a hard adjustment.

“Nobody doesn’t want to be a refugee,” Trafimovich said. “Everybody wants to live in their own country, but we have no choice. We very appreciate for these people, for this country, and I think our family is lucky because I have here friends, I have here very good sponsors, I have here very cool coworkers and all this community. Everybody has to understand we didn’t want to be refugee. We want to live in our country like free people with my family. I want my children to see their grandparents. It’s very hard for me.”