A place to call home: meet Jihan Abdulla, refugee and U.S. citizen.

Everyone feels left out once in a while. But what if your life was in danger just because you were different from the people around you? That's the nightmare millions of refugees around the world face.

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of a well-founded fear of being killed of put under enemy control. The reasons can include race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. A refugee cannot return home or is afraid to do so, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The main reasons refugees flee their countries are wars and ethnic, tribal, and religious violence.

More than 2.6 million refugees have permanently moved to the United States during the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Department of State. And roughly 45 percent of new arrivals in the last four years were under the age of 20.

One Refugee's Story

Jihan Abdulla, now 17, wasn't yet born when her family members fled their home in Iraq in 1988. Their lives were in danger because they are Kurds. Most Kurds reside in a region that spans parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey; they are ethnic minorities in each.

Many Iraqi Kurds became refugees after fleeing Saddam Hussein's attacks in the late 1980s. (When Current Health went to press, former Iraqi officials were on trial for attacks that left tens of thousands of Kurds dead or missing.) Jihan's family members lived in the town of Zokho in northern Iraq and were among those who ran for their lives during the attacks. They made it to Turkey, but many of their relatives were killed.

Now a high school student in Nashville, Tennessee, Jihan shares her family's story of finding new hope in the United States.

Fearing for Their Lives

"My family remembers the war and how Saddam Hussein wanted to get rid of Kurds and take over the land we occupied. His military gassed our city. My mom was pregnant at the time, and she lost the baby because she inhaled the poison. Many of my uncles, aunts, and cousins also died. It was a very horrible time for my family and other Kurds." [Researchers are studying the aftereffects of the poisoning; many Kurds who were attacked suffer from asthma, allergies, and vision problems. In addition, many Kurds who remember the persecution report having flashbacks and recurring mental and emotional anguish and depression, called post-traumatic stress disorder.]

"My family escaped to Turkey, where I was born in a refugee camp. My family lived in the camp for four years. The whole family--nine of us--lived and slept in a tent together. The streets were not safe. We struggled to find food; sometimes we'd go one or two days without eating, and my parents were afraid we children would die. They worried about our relatives still in northern Iraq. And they worried about what the Turkish soldiers protecting the refugee camp might do. Historically, relations between Kurds and Turks have been tense, so it was difficult for Kurds to trust Turks. Plus, there were many rumors about the soldiers' abusing refugees, even children. We all were afraid of the soldiers.

"We were fortunate when missionaries from Fargo, N.D., sponsored us to come to the United States. We arrived in Fargo on Sept. 2, 1992."

Life in the United States

"My parents often talk about how foreign everything seemed at the airport and how intimidated we all felt. We didn't know anybody of speak English. But the missionaries met us at the airport and helped us settle. They helped us find a home. They and other American friends we made also helped us learn about life in the United States. When you're new to a country, language, and culture, it's difficult to know what to do or how to do it--even things that seem simple, like buying groceries, enrolling in school, or filling out a job application, were new to us. We greatly appreciated all the help they gave us, and eventually we got adjusted to our new lives and home. Thankfully, because I was so young and languages often are easier to learn the younger you are, English came quickly to me. But my parents and older siblings found it difficult to learn. Tutors came to our house to teach them.

"We lived in Fargo for four years, before joining my father's brothers and other friends and relatives in Nashville. We like our life in Nashville, but many cultural differences exist, from the foods we eat to our faith to our general way of life. Because I grew up here from a young age, I understand both cultures, but sometimes it's difficult for my parents and older relatives to fathom how Americans can be so individualistic. In Kurdish culture, family is most important and comes first, and that sometimes means making personal sacrifices.

"I became a U.S. citizen when I was in middle school. I remember [having] our pictures [taken] and signing the form. I didn't think much more about it at the time. When you're little, you don't think about those important moments in life in a big way. But as you grow up, you realize that one little piece of paper gives you a privilege. In addition to the legal rights, like being able to vote, you are more respected in everyday life. It feels good. Not that I'm ashamed of where I came from or of being a refugee--not at all. That's who I am; that was my late. I am glad to be here, where I am safe and have many opportunities.

"For example, my mom never got to go to school, and my father only went through fourth grade. If I do well in school and work hard, I can become whatever I want to become now that we are sale. (I want to be a fashion designer someday.) My parents encourage me to stick with my goals and be who I want to be. It makes me feel blessed to have so many opportunities."

After Sept. 11, 2001

"Of course, we face challenges here too, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. I am [a] Muslim. After the attacks, some Americans began to think that all Muslims are terrorists. I wish my classmates and others would ask me questions about my culture and religion, instead of making these hurtful and harmful assumptions. If they did, I would tell them the truth. The vast majority of Muslims, like me, are as kind, loving, and peaceful as people of other faiths. Islam never teaches you to kill or hurt innocent people--just [as] other faiths don't teach you to do those horrible things.

"Fortunately, only a small group was racist against me and other people of Middle Eastern heritage in my community. In fact, many of my teachers and classmates were supportive and offered to help me if anyone [harassed] me. I feel safe in Nashville. And, mostly, I lead a normal life, like other teenagers. I go to school, hang out with my friends, spend a lot of time with my family, and work part-time.

"It makes me sad to know there are refugees all over the world who hope to live in a safe place full of opportunities [the way] I do. I hope they get the help they need, like I did. I am grateful for my life. And I am proud to be a Muslim, a Kurd, and an American."

LEARN MORE

Want to learn what life is like for teens living in refugee camps in Darfur, Sudan? Try mtvU's serious game Darfur is Dying.

www.darfurisdying.com

Discuss

* What is a refugee? (someone who flees his or her country because of fears of violence or persecution due to ethnicity, religion, race, nationality, political beliefs, or participation in a social group)

* What problems did Jihan and her family encounter as refugees? (poor living conditions, hunger, fear of soldiers guarding the refugee camp, and numerous issues after immigrating to the United States)

* After Hurricane Katrina decimated much of the Gulf Coast, many news organizations described the people affected as refugees. Some people thought the word refugee in this instance was inappropriate. What do you think? Why? (Answers will vary.)

Do

Encourage your class to advocate on behalf of displaced people. If there is a large refugee population in your community, ask leaders to meet with your class and explain the reasons people left their homes and the challenges they face. Or select a refugee population on the world stage--for example, in the Darfur region of Sudan--and have students research the affected group. Then the class can collaborate on a letter to the editor of your school or community newspaper or broadcast outlet, educating viewers or readers on the plight of the refugee group and offering ways to get involved.

Resources

Supporting the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, the group USA for UNHCR shares information, lesson plans, and other resources in the Teachers' Corner section of its Web site at www.unrefugees.org/ educationalresources.cfm.

COMING TO AMERICA

Look how many refugees have found shelter in the
United States. These numbers are from 2005 alone.

Africa                       15,498
East Asia                     4,451
Europe                        9,633
Latin America/Caribbean       3,270
Near East/South Asia
TOTAL                        35,713

Source: State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration