World Refugee Day
In London, on June 17th, thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square, including schoolchildren, to taste what life in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region was like. The event followed UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres early kick off to World Refugee Day celebrations. Following a tour of the mock refugee camp, Guterres announced the results of the annual Global Trends report, which showed that the number of refugees under UNHCR’s responsibility had risen in 2007 for the second year in a row to 11.4 million, while the overall number of people of concern to the agency stood at 31.7 million. He said the rise in refugee numbers was of great concern (UNHCR).
World Refugee Day was officially held worldwide today, June 2oth, this years theme is Protection. Millions of refugees around the world live with out the fundamental right to the protection from violence and persecution. World Refugee Day looks to bring attention to those who have been forced from their homes to seek protection, and bring attention to their plight to receive even the most basic necessities such as; shelter, water, food and basic healthcare.
Most refugees are women, children and elderly, and over half of all refugees are children. The millions of child refugees, face the daily turmoils so few of us can imagine, as the violence and struggles that led children into a life as a refugee are only the beginning of their hardship. The rights and special protection needs of refugee children are frequently neglected, and children often face additional abuses in the camps. Life of a refugee is never easy, but it is woman and children who suffer the disparaging effects of displacement around the world. A window into this world can be see in Oxfam’s Alun McDonald’s interview; A day in the life of a 12-year-old in a Darfur camp.
How can you help? Join the efforts to help refugee children by supporting NineMillion, a campaign created in 2006 by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in partnership with Nike and Microsoft. The goal of the campaign is to give more than nine million children better access to education, sport and technology by 2010.
For more information on Refugee situations see the following links and current news articles: