‘Many feel powerless’: Call for better support of refugees

An African refugee who fled his own country as a child and who now calls Townsville home is hoping to bring more awareness about the plight of refugees from the Sunday Walk for Peace and Justice for Refugees on The Strand.

Central African Republic refugee Jules Ngassamba home is hoping to bring more awareness about the plight of refugees from the Sunday Walk for Peace and Justice for Refugees on The Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

An African refugee who fled his own country as a child and who now calls Townsville home is hoping to bring more awareness about the plight of refugees from the Sunday Walk for Peace and Justice for Refugees on The Strand.

Central African Republic refugee Jules Ngassamba was just seven-years-old when he and his family fled their home in the Central African Republic due the county’s ranging civil war.

He spent the next 18 years in a refugee camp in neighbouring Chad before coming to Australia with his family in 2019 to join the growing African community in the city.

Mr Ngassamba is the Townsville Multicultural Resource Support Group’s (TMRSG) business pathways’ co-ordinator, helping find employment for other refugees and is secretary of the Townsville’s 200-strong Central African Republic community

He said the walk would highlight the plight of refugees around the world and also the support they need to become part of the community here in Australia.

“We need support, because refugees face a lot of challenges, and they need peace to live in wherever they are. Refugees also want a peace in their own country. So they can go back one day to visit their own country,” Mr Ngassamba said.

Central African Republic refugee Jules Ngassamba home is hoping to bring more awareness about the plight of refugees from the Sunday Walk for Peace and Justice for Refugees on The Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

He said it was not until he was in Australia that he felt truly safe for the first time since he was a child.

“When we arrive in Australia and we start learning a lot about the country that is when I know that we have full freedom, and we have peace to live and to sleep at night.

“A lot of people are still there in the country (Central African Republic) and they are also looking to find somewhere to call home that has peace.

“I like encourage the government like to bring more. Refugees into Australia particularly from Central Africa.”

The walk is being co-ordinated by Townsville’s Amnesty International Action Group, Townsville Multicultural Support Group (TMSG) and JCU student group SANTE (Supporting All Nations Towards Equality) with support from diverse faith communities.

Amnesty co-ordinator Peter Hanley said the walk will let people of goodwill show support for a compassionate and peaceful world.

“Many of us feel powerless in the face of the wars and conflicts that are ongoing in our world,” Mr Hanley said.

“Gaza and Ukraine come immediately to mind but there are ongoing conflicts in regions of Africa and Asia that have caused the deaths of millions and have led to a world that has more than 120 million refugees and internally displaced people.

“Townsville is among scores of regional cities that annually welcome hundreds of newcomers through Australia’s Humanitarian Settlement Program. The city settled 905 refugees between July 2013 and July 2023.”

This year’s event will start this Sunday, April 13, 4pm at the Gregory St Amphitheatre and also finish at the amphitheatre after a circuit around Strand Park.

Originally published as ‘Many feel powerless’: Call for better support of refugees