At the end of the second world war, particularly the fall of Berlin/end of the European
fighting-hundreds of thousands of Jews who survived the holocaust were fortunate
enough to escape either the Nazis or the Soviets..or both.
Many of the orphaned children of these ended up in 'displaced persons' camps in the around the U.K.  For years,
it was a normal thing to hear hundreds of names during BBC radio broadcasts.
The really interesting, and inspiring thing, was not just that the broadcasters
took the time and effort to mention the individuals (which is pretty unusual even then)
The truly inspiring thing is that these individual holocaust survivors would be
given a form (or asked from a form) to fill out with any relative or friend of the family
who might be contacted anywhere in the world essentially.
This isnt as ridiculous as it might seem at first. If you and your family are about
to flee a war or oppressive/dangerous conditions and are part of a people who
have a LARGE history of fleeing violence, prejudice, injustice, death, and destruction,
you have some cultural memory and/or experience to draw upon.  You are aware that your family
may, possibly will, be separated, and additionally, that the difference between
life and death may easily be a name.  So you have every member of your family old enough to
speak memorize the names of relatives and friends who might provide shelter from
whatever danger you are fleeing.
So when these jews in the displaced persons camps were told to list anyone who
might be able to help them, get them settled, give them work, or a home--they had
some names to give.  At least, a large number did. So, on any given evening in
1946 a person in London might turn on the radio to hear "Leela Silvenberg, age 9,formerly of Dresden,
Germany, escaped the camp in Aushwitz, and has lost her entire family.  If Robert Silver of
London's East End or Hanah Ableton of Brighton or someone who knows either of those
persons hears this broadcast please contact..."
Surprisingly, over 80% of the persons whose names were broadcast were located and
a large percentage (although not all-as some were such awful human beings as to tell
some of the refugees to 'stand on [their] own two feet', etc) DID take in the refugees
or help them to find family members in other countries.  Some of the refugees were
even sent to places like the US as a result of persons here hearing a name they
recognized as a child of a relative or friend and volunteering to take them in.

I was able to hear a few of the BBC broadcasts asking for assistance on behalf
of these children recently and it was incredibly moving.
Why aren't we doind this for refugees from North Africa that are in camps in Italy
or those who are running from fighting in Syria or Lebanon?
Surely there are friends and relatives of some of these people in the US or Europe?
Others could even volunteer. I would volunteer to give a pair of refugee children a
home for a few months until they could be found a more permanent solution.  Im sure
there are others who would do the same.
I HAVE to believe that the majority of humanity hasn't changed all that much since
1946.  Most people would still help a suffering and alone child if they had the
capability. 
I just wanted to expunge the thought from my mind by writing it down.  Its SOOOO incredibly
frustrating that things like money and advertisers would keep broadcasters from doing
a similar thing for refugees now. I mean, really, are we comfortable with a culture
that puts the sale of toothpaste or the lauding of its taste, etc above the alleviation
of a child's suffering?
And, if we are, is there a reason we should even bother continuing on if our cultural
is that bereft of humanity and true value?

just a thought.