Last night, Benesys, an Impact Consultancy, attended an eye-opening event at the Conduit titled "Refugee Realities: The People Behind the Headlines." In honour of World Refugee Day, we were captivated by the profound insights shared by two remarkable speakers, Arwa Damon and Tara Kangarlou. With nearly 35 million refugees worldwide, and in the run up World Refugee Day next week, their respective insights were both timely and crucial.
Having recently returned from Gaza, where she gained access through humanitarian channels, Arwa shared insights from the frontlines. Though careful not to compare conflicts, she noted, “There is something different about Gaza, beyond the scale, the scope, and the speed in which it happened. It is the psychological devastation. The ‘spark of life’ in Gazans’ eyes is gone to a degree I have not seen before.” Arwa emphasised how the relentless bombings and complete lack of safe spaces have provoked a situation of unparalleled psychological devastation.
Tara, emphasised the critical need to combat media apathy and audience fatigue. She highlighted the struggle to break through this indifference, yet both speakers passionately argued for the importance of humanising stories to foster empathy and connection. They reminded us that while we may not change the world overnight, we can each contribute to changing a single story, and that is a powerful start.
The event shed light on the grim realities of war – creating tragedies too vast for media consumption and prolonging conflicts to obscure crimes from the public eye. However, Arwa and Tara’s dedication to telling these stories serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring us to push through discomfort and ensure these narratives continue to be told - and heard.
Key Takeaways:
Journalists face the daunting task of portraying extreme human suffering in ways that evoke empathy, capture attention and prompt action.
Combating audience fatigue by connecting through human stories is essential.
Wars strategically dehumanise those affected, impacting media and public perception.
Comments