NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Chris Clarke: Paying a ransom to secure space

By Chris Clarke
NZ Herald·
6 Sep, 2015 05:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A vessel in distress approximately 107 nautical miles, or just under 200km, north of Christmas Island and about 100 nautical miles, or around 185km, south of Indonesia. Photo / AMSA
A vessel in distress approximately 107 nautical miles, or just under 200km, north of Christmas Island and about 100 nautical miles, or around 185km, south of Indonesia. Photo / AMSA

A vessel in distress approximately 107 nautical miles, or just under 200km, north of Christmas Island and about 100 nautical miles, or around 185km, south of Indonesia. Photo / AMSA

Opinion

What drives a father to pay a king's ransom to secure a space on a leaky, overcrowded boat for his daughter?

Simply that the alternative of staying behind is many times worse. It's an impossible choice and one no parent should ever have to face and no child endure.

MAKE A DONATION HERE

Behind each decision to board a boat, steal across a border in the middle of the night, stow aboard a train or marry off a child is a story of aspiration, setbacks, dreams dashed, sleepless nights, nauseating fear and forced choices.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The stories emerging from Europe, from Lebanon and Jordan, are shattering.

FAQ: WHAT IS THE FORGOTTEN MILLIONS CAMPAIGN?

Even seasoned World Vision colleagues who have worked in disaster zones around the world are rendered silent by the images and stories we are seeing.

It is why we are relaunching the Forgotten Millions campaign. When Rachel Smalley and I were in Lebanon and Kurdistan earlier this year, the only thing we were asked by the refugees we met was that we not forget them.

It's why I am asking you to dig deep, yet again, to help us raise money as an act of solidarity and a sign of our shared humanity.

I promise you, no matter how big or small the amount, it will make a difference.

- Chris Clarke, World Vision chief executive

What is the situation in and around Syria now?

The conflict in Syria is in its fifth year. A generation of Syrian and Iraqi children have lost homes, friends, family members, and witnessed or experienced extreme violence. They are now living in makeshift tents and abandoned buildings, their families struggling for food. Calls for funding by the UN and NGOs globally have largely gone ignored and the situation has hit breaking point. In the past two months, more than 500,000 refugees have had their food assistance dramatically reduced or cut altogether, putting unsustainable financial pressure on families. The hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war have used the last of their finances for a chance of a better life in Europe for themselves and their children.

Discover more

World

Relieved refugees welcomed into Austria

05 Sep 05:00 PM
World

The Great Escape reveals stark contrast in Europe

05 Sep 09:01 PM
World

'Britain should help crush Isil'

06 Sep 12:52 AM
World

Refugee response puts New Zealand to shame, says expat

06 Sep 01:58 AM
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      How is World Vision responding?

      World Vision has already reached more than two million Syrian refugees, providing them with the basic necessities: water, food, shelter, blankets and hygiene kits, as well as focusing on education and child-friendly spaces to keep children safe from exploitation.

      How can I get involved?

      Your support will make a crucial difference to the children and their families in desperate need throughout this region. Please make an urgent donation to support those devastated by the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Where will my money go?

      Your donation will go where it's most needed - to projects that support refugees in the Middle East and in Europe.

      How can I make a donation?

      You can make online donations, phone donations and offline donations.

      MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION HERE

      Phone donations can be made on 0800 90 5000.

      Offline donations can be made by printing off the form below and filling it out (app users tap here).

      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from World

      EntertainmentUpdated

      Rock legends Oasis kick off 'historic' comeback tour

      04 Jul 08:05 PM
      Premium
      World

      A new global divide: AI boom creates gap between nations

      04 Jul 08:00 PM
      World

      Former Arsenal footballer charged with multiple rapes

      04 Jul 06:59 PM

      There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      Rock legends Oasis kick off 'historic' comeback tour
      Entertainment

      Rock legends Oasis kick off 'historic' comeback tour

      04 Jul 08:05 PM
      Pedestrian dies after being hit by vehicle in Canterbury
      New Zealand

      Pedestrian dies after being hit by vehicle in Canterbury

      04 Jul 08:04 PM
      Kiwi thrilled to fulfil his Tour de France dream
      Cycling

      Kiwi thrilled to fulfil his Tour de France dream

      04 Jul 08:00 PM
      Bored with breakfast? Try this sweet miso bacon and egg toast with wasabi-avocado twist
      Lifestyle

      Bored with breakfast? Try this sweet miso bacon and egg toast with wasabi-avocado twist

      04 Jul 07:00 PM
      Former Arsenal footballer charged with multiple rapes
      World

      Former Arsenal footballer charged with multiple rapes

      04 Jul 06:59 PM

      Latest from World

      Rock legends Oasis kick off 'historic' comeback tour

      Rock legends Oasis kick off 'historic' comeback tour

      04 Jul 08:05 PM

      The much-loved 90s band kicked off their reunion tour in Cardiff, thrilling 74,000 fans.

      Premium
      A new global divide: AI boom creates gap between nations

      A new global divide: AI boom creates gap between nations

      04 Jul 08:00 PM
      Former Arsenal footballer charged with multiple rapes

      Former Arsenal footballer charged with multiple rapes

      04 Jul 06:59 PM
      ‘Hug therapy’: How Pope Leo is trying to unify Vatican

      ‘Hug therapy’: How Pope Leo is trying to unify Vatican

      04 Jul 07:14 AM
      From early mornings to easy living
      sponsored

      From early mornings to easy living

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search