Critical reflection 1. The Plight of Refugees. Communications & Media

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The Plight of Refugees
In 2019, the population of migrants in the world stood at 272 million. While that number is staggering, the 2018 and 2019 figures exposed by "UNHCR's global trends in forced displacement" show that more migrants are on the move. The huge number of migrants is influenced by political persecution and war, especially in the Middle East. To combat migration, the film "States prepare global combat for safe, orderly and regular migration," discloses that the UN has established regular and safe pathways for migrants. However, the "Immigrant voices of America" reveals that the majority of migrants continue to suffer in silence despite moving into peaceful countries.
Films depicting the plight of refugees can easily become common films for entertainment if they do not provide enough content for the viewers to understand the experiences of migrants. However, all the four films under review present a clear picture of migration in the 21st century while also revealing a global story of desperation and desolation. The majority of the refugees suffer from psychological trauma due to frequent bombing and destruction of their homes, schools, and playgrounds. Although the films focus on migrants from Syria, those coming from war tone countries in Africa also face the same fate. The UN estimates that at least more than 2000 refugees sink in the Mediterranean Sea every year while trying to reach Europe.
Due to migrants' immense suffering, the film 'Immigrant voices of America" reveals that even after detaching themselves from the cultural context they grew up in, migrants struggle to access admission in new societies. This is evidenced by immigrants in the US who cannot acquire driver licenses or marriage certificates because they are undocumented. The hesitation in admitting migrants in new societies is based on the notion that all migrants are poor and illiterate; yet, some of them are as educated as those people interpreting their situation. In some situations, refugees, especially those from Syria, are denied entry because authorities believe that they are terrorists. However, it is just ironic how the same migrants trying to escape terrorism in their homelands are confused with being terrorists themselves.
The origin of migration can indeed be dated to the first century of mankind. However, in the last ten years, the world has witnessed an overwhelming rate of migration. From the four films, continuous wars and political persecution are the main causes of migration. The first seconds of UNHCR's global trends in forced displacement for 2019 reveal a war tone area that is entir...