LETTER | Finding strength through humanity and resilience

LETTER | Living in a Covid-19 world is a strange, uncertain and unfamiliar experience. Global issues of concern such as climate change, nuclear disarmament, conflicts, poverty and many others are placed in the backseat with daily meetings at every level focused on ways to survive the pandemic.

Naturally, this crisis has left us with an increasingly inward-looking perspective –an example, individuals excessively stocking up on groceries and essential supplies. This behaviour has even led to some fighting over toilet rolls! 

Some countries have also similarly adopted extreme measures, including turning away migrants and refugees, closing of borders, abandoning traditional multilateral fora, among others. Indeed, some of these measures and policies are necessary for survival and as control measures to suppress the spread of Covid-19, while others have raised grave concern to our shared human values.

While we surrender our established way of lives for the “new normal”, fundamental human values should not be compromised and must be adopted as part of the “new normal” world which we now live in. Notably, two values which are essential is humanity and resilience; values which I have learnt working in the “humanitarian sector”.

Humanity is defined as a moral force to assist and alleviate another person’s sufferings. Resilience, on the other hand, is the ability to cope in the most challenging situations, both mentally and physically.

I have had the privilege to work with vulnerable communities, speaking to men, women and children who were forced to flee their homes and had undergone traumatic experiences throughout their journey. This includes a man forced to see his own child being burnt alive by his neighbours and another having his child thrown onto spikes. 

Yet another, a woman had dodged bullets and walked hundreds of kilometres to what she thought was safety only to find herself trafficked and sexually assaulted by human traffickers. Today, many of these brave women, men and children whom I have spoken to have built new lives.

I have wondered for a period of time, how is it possible for them to survive such traumatic experiences. I am convinced that they had found strength in humanity and kindness that strangers have shown them - some giving them job opportunities, financial aid, and some in smaller forms, having a conversation with them. Importantly, I believe that the sheer will and resilience to live enabled these brave women, men and children to pull through their darkest hour.

Today, while most of us have not fled from our homes and are asked to do the opposite - to stay at home - we continue to face different challenges in different forms, losing jobs and livelihoods, facing the uncertainty of life in a Covid-19 world, and some even losing closed ones. 

In spite of these, I hope that we will find strength through humanity and resilience in these difficult times, lending a helping hand to our vulnerable communities, friends and relatives who are in need and to supporting our health care workers and frontline workers who keep us safe by putting their lives at risk. 

Ultimately, I hope that we always remember that we are part of a broader global community, where we cannot live by ourselves and for ourselves. Our ability to live in a Covid-19 world depends on all of us.

The writer is an international lawyer who has been working in the humanitarian sector. 

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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