World Refugee Day is observed on the 20th June each year and is organized by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Its purpose is to highlight the plight of refugees all over the world who have been forced to flee their homes because of wars and persecution; to help us to understand why people become refugees; and to encourage us to remember and think about their lives, the choices they have had to make, and their enormous courage in adversity.
There are currently over 42 million forcibly displaced people worldwide and according to the UNHCR, 2011 was a record year for forced displacement across borders, with more people becoming refugees than at any other time since 2000. 4.3 million people were newly displaced and 800,000 fled their countries and became refugees.
You can read more about refugees’ personal stories – who they are, why they become refugees, how they feel, and what their future holds – on the Refugee Stories website and the British Red Cross. Stories of people like Eric Nkundumubano who escaped the genocide of Rwanda to settle in the UK, and Alia who fled torture and persecution in Eritrea.
Angelina Jolie was made UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2001. She has carried out more than 40 field missions to some of the most remote regions of the world to highlight the plight of millions of uprooted people and to advocate for their protection.
Her years of remarkable service in this field have been recognized with her appointment as High Commissioner António Guterres’ Special Envoy. This new role will see her focus on large-scale crises resulting in mass population displacement.
Angelina Jolie UNHCR Special Envoy for Refugee Issues
No one chooses to be a refugee. Every minute eight people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. If conflict threatened your family, what would you do? Stay and risk your lives? Or try to flee, and risk kidnap, rape or torture? UNHCR
For many refugees the choice is between an unimaginable horror and something that might be even worse. I have no idea how I would cope given those choices – especially if I had to make them on behalf of my children.
I have much respect for parents who can move their families out of danger this way, and I know the UN camps are tough and it’s hard for everyone; the families and the aid workers, and then the restrictions that are in place to protect the temp status of the camps.
Let’s hope the world calms down a bit more throughout the rest of the year
Twitter: saraharrow
My mother spent two years as a “refugee” in Nazi occupied northern Europe during WW2. She had British nationality which would have meant curtains not only for her but also for her Belgian mother and stepfather with whom she was living, so at the age of 17 she had to flee to France and keep moving around, living in people’s barns and surviving on human kindness. It was an experience that scarred her emotionally for life.
Yet her experience was nothing when you compare it with the insane suffering and torture experienced by refugees in other circumstances. It’s truly heart-breaking.
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Suzan St Maur lovingly typed…Do you write in English, or in ENGLISH?
Twitter: SuzanStMaur
What an interesting story, Suze. I expect there are many similar stories from WW2, and a whole generation of people left scarred by their experiences.
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Angela Boothroyd lovingly typed…The beauty of vowels
Twitter: StudyingOnline
A powerful post and reminder about how lucky we are. It makes a bad day VERY trivial compared to the choices refugees have to make …
Angelika Davey lovingly typed…British Bosses value foreign language skills, especially German!
Twitter: german_tutor
Doesn’t it just, Angelika? When I was writing the post I read many of the refugees’ personal stories and found it very difficult to imagine the horrors they had faced (and continue to face emotionally and psychologically even when they’ve become more settled in a new home).
Twitter: StudyingOnline
Thank God for those who call attention to the plight and needs of refugees.
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Mary C. Weaver, CSCS lovingly typed…10 biggest fat-loss and fitness mistakes
Twitter: themusclediva
Yes. I hadn’t realised until recently just how much amazing work Angelina Jolie does for the UNHCR and for refugees. It’s a great pity we don’t hear more about that from the media (instead of the usual rubbish about what she’s wearing or how much/little she eats).
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Angela Boothroyd lovingly typed…9 nationality / ethnicity idioms
Twitter: StudyingOnline