I have set out to tell the story of my childhood in captivity because I believe it is as relevant today as it was forty-nine years ago. The world still struggles with the refugee crisis and faces similar humanitarian disasters from mass migration, displacement, and forced relocation. There is an urgent need to highlight the plight of those forced to leave their homes, under threat of persecution.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees have entered Europe from war-torn Syria, Sudan, Burma, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. European countries do not have the resources to accommodate such a large number of migrants and refugees trapped in camps in Europe have no clear way out. Thousands of Central Americans have left their homes to join the refugee caravans and tens of thousands of Rohingya people have become stateless.
Recently the United States has implemented stricter immigration regulations and banned the entry of refugees. These stranded refugees have nowhere to go and no hope. We, the civilized nations, have a moral obligation to help these refugees who are trapped in desperate situations. I hope my book will bring more awareness to the refugee crisis and show the human element in the refugee story.