📷 Image Credits: World Health Organization (WHO)
World Refugee Day 2024 was observed on June 20th, 2024, with the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizing the importance of building inclusive health systems and ensuring equitable care for refugees worldwide under the theme “Solidarity with Refugees”. The day highlighted the resilience of refugees, advocated for their health rights, and aimed to create a world where everyone, regardless of migratory status, enjoys universal access to quality health care.
In a special message marking World Refugee Day, UN Secretary-General highlighted the unprecedented challenges faced by over 120 million people who have been forcibly displaced, with 43.5 million of them being refugees. The Secretary-General emphasized the need for global solidarity to protect and support refugees on every step of their journey, acknowledging their strength and courage amidst profound human suffering.
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, dignity, and protection of refugees and forcibly displaced persons worldwide on this significant day. With more than 120 million people forced from their homes due to various reasons like war, violence, and persecution, the US applauded countries hosting large numbers of refugees and recognized the importance of providing refugees with opportunities to integrate into local communities.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) echoed the calls for global solidarity, underscoring the urgency to help refugees rebuild their lives in dignity. Filippo Grandi, the head of UNHCR, shared insights from the Sudan-South Sudan border, shedding light on the overwhelming challenges faced by nearly 700,000 people who fled the devastating war in Sudan. Grandi emphasized that three-quarters of the world’s refugees reside in countries with modest incomes, emphasizing the need for collective support and cooperation.
From Sudan to Ukraine, and beyond, conflict, climate chaos, and upheaval continue to drive record numbers of people from their homes, with more than 120 million individuals globally being forcibly displaced, including 43.5 million refugees. World Refugee Day serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and courage exhibited by refugees worldwide and calls for strengthened efforts to protect and support them at every stage of their journey. It reiterates the importance of upholding human rights, providing equal opportunities, and resolving conflicts to secure the well-being and dignity of those forced from their communities.
