Refugees in the Urban Wilderness: Plight of Refugees in Landing Cities and Opportunities for Response

Perceptions about refugees have been colored by popular culture portrayals of refugees in rural camps with basic needs provided by relief agencies. Today, more than half of the world’s refugees are based in cities and are responsible for their own shelter and sustenance. In many instances, refugees seeking resettlement must first go to a city in a third country where they are screened by the United Nations for resettlement. This process takes a number of years and involves a unique set of challenges. In this article, the author examines the realities faced by refugees/asylum seekers in these landing cities and explores opportunities for response by the church.