When Russian missiles began to rain down on Ukrainian cities last week, the media naturally went into overdrive to provide wall-to-wall coverage, trotting out foreign correspondents and war pundits – on both sides of the issue – to explain what was happening.
Watching the (deserved) outpouring of support for Ukraine, I have simultaneously been wondering why there hasn't been the same level of support--especially in opening the gates for refugees--for other people in other countries where hospitals and apartment buildings are being bombed, civilians being killed, food and water shortages causing starvation--countries such as Afghanistan and Syria coming to mind. I am afraid the sad conclusion is that it's not so much the terror of war as the color of skin that makes the difference to getting help.
Watching the (deserved) outpouring of support for Ukraine, I have simultaneously been wondering why there hasn't been the same level of support--especially in opening the gates for refugees--for other people in other countries where hospitals and apartment buildings are being bombed, civilians being killed, food and water shortages causing starvation--countries such as Afghanistan and Syria coming to mind. I am afraid the sad conclusion is that it's not so much the terror of war as the color of skin that makes the difference to getting help.