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National Geographic : 1993 May
Contents
Goalposts collect laundry in a sports center housing Bosnian refugees in Split. Fartherup the Croatian coast, in Rijeka, a Bosnianfami ly enjoys a shower, most likely their first in days. Refugees here sweated out the summer in a tent camp set up by the Red Cross. apply for most jobs, so many work illegally. "I worked for three months in a pizza res taurant," said Hailu. "I quit because too many police were coming. But sitting around here is bad for our morale." "Sometimes sitting in my room, I have nothing to do, nothing to eat," Mengstalem added. "I think, 'Why not just go take some thing? Why not?' So I go steal something. Usu ally bread and beer. Not chocolate or cake. Just alcohol or food. Why not? I am hungry. Must I die? "When we study or have work, we are proud," he said. "We don't steal. We live like normal people." The Ethiopians were hardly near death, but I could not help but wonder about their plight. According to the rules, they should return to Ethiopia, apply for student visas and fellow ships, and then return. But they and I knew why they stayed, and I could not blame them for seeking what poor immigrants have sought for centuries-a better life. And yet there are some people who might not care much whether Mengstalem and Hailu live or die. Across Berlin in a cinderblock building next to a sprawling public-housing project I found a youth club called Roots, 118
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