It’s absolutely good to see the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team in Rio: It’s good to see the Olympics aren’t ignoring the worst refugee crisis since World War II, and it’s good to see 10 refugee athletes representing the estimated 65 million displaced people in the world. But it’s also absolutely essential that the world, including the U.S., do more to help refugees. Omar Bah, founder and executive director of the Refugee Dream Center in Providence, said the Olympic Refugee Team “provides an opportunity to see refugees as human beings” and “not be swayed by the political discourse.” At the same time, “it provides an opportunity for the world to provide more support for refugees — to increase protection and to increase resettlement, particularly in the United States,” he said. “And it provides an opportunity for the world to reduce or minimize conflicts that cause displacements of people across the world.” Bah said we can do more than just cheer on the refugees in Rio: We can support groups such as the Refugee Dream Center, and we can visit refugees in Rhode Island. “You don’t have to watch them on TV,” he said. “They are right here.”
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