World Refugee Day:

Help refugees live in safety and dignity

Can you imagine how you would feel if you have been driven from your home and have to seek refuge in some unfamiliar place, possibly even in a foreign land?

Although you may think that there is only a rather remote chance of this happening to you, it is, in fact, a reality for over 20 million of the world’s population. Yes, that’s right, there are more than 20 million refugees - men, women and children - in all corners of the world.

They are forgotten by the rest of the community and suffer in refugee camps. They lack even the basic necessities in life such as food, shelter and clothing. Child victims are deprived of an education, future opportunities and even the love and care of their family and are sometimes abused and exploited.

Despite facing all these adversities, refugees continue with extreme courage, resilience and strength, trying to do the best in situations beyond their control and in places far away from their homelands.

This strength and courage are honoured by the world on June 20, the World Refugee Day. The plight of refugees and the causes of their exile, their determination and will to survive and the contributions they make to their host communities are recognised and saluted on this day.

The day’s activities are also organised to thank those who protect refugees and provide them care. ‘Protecting Refugees: Rebuilding Lives in Safety and Dignity’ has been selected as this year’s theme.

The activities of the day are spearheaded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which also looks after the well-being of refugees. The Office of the UNHCR was established by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 1950 to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve their problems worldwide.

Under the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention, it tries to protect the basic human rights of vulnerable persons and ensure that refugees will not be returned against their will to a country where they will be hunted down and harassed.

The organisation helps civilians return to their homelands, integrate in countries of asylum or resettle in third countries. It also seeks to provide at least a minimum of shelter, food, water and medical care to victimised communities.

The UNHCR has so far helped over 50 million people rebuild their lives. The United Nations General Assembly resolution, designating June 20 as World Refugee Day, was adopted in 2000.