UN SPOTLIGHTS PLIGHT OF REFUGEES AS NUMBER OF GLOBALLY DISPLACED HITS 18-YEAR HIGH

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 20 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0400
Subject: UN SPOTLIGHTS PLIGHT OF REFUGEES AS NUMBER OF GLOBALLY
DISPLACED HITS 18-YEAR HIGH
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN SPOTLIGHTS PLIGHT OF REFUGEES AS NUMBER OF GLOBALLY DISPLACED HITS
18-YEAR HIGHNew York, Jun 20 2013 11:00AMMarking World Refugee Day,
United Nations officials highlighted the plight of millions of
refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the globe,
and urged countries to boost efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts
that have caused massive displacement.

"There are now more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced
people – the highest level in nearly 20 years. Last year alone,
someone was forced to abandon their home every four seconds,"
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his
<"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6920">message for
<"http://www.unhcr.org/51c2f6886.html">World Refugee Day, observed
annually on 20 June.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released
yesterday its <em><"http://unhcr.org/globaltrendsjune2013/UNHCR%20GLOBAL%20TRENDS%202012_V05.pdf">Global
Trends</em> report, which showed that at the end of 2012, more than
45.2 million people were in situations of displacement, compared to
42.5 million at the end of 2011. The report also pointed to the
conflict in Syria as a major factor for the spike in displacement and
noted that nearly half of all refuges are below the age of 18.

Yet, Mr. Ban stressed that figures give "only a glimpse of this
enormous human tragedy." Indeed, he said, every day, conflict tears
apart the lives of thousands of families. "They may be forced to leave
loved ones behind or become separated in the chaos of war."

The UN chief noted that forced displacement affects not just those
fleeing conflict but also has a significant economic, social and
sometime political impact on host countries. Currently 81 per cent of
the world's refugees are hosted by developing countries and more than
half of refugees come from just five war-affected countries:
Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Sudan.

"Finding durable solutions for the displaced will require more
solidarity and burden-sharing by the international community," Mr.
Ban said. "On World Refugee Day, I call on the international
community to intensify efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and
to help achieve peace and security so that families can be reunited
and refugees can return home."

World Refugee Day was established by the UN General Assembly in late
2000 and this year focuses on families.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres drew special
attention to the situation faced by families in Syria, where some 1.6
million people have been displaced since the crisis started over two
years ago.

"In all the years I have worked on behalf of refugees, this is the
most worrying I have ever witnessed. The needs of these people are
overwhelming; their anguish is unbearable,"
<"http://www.unhcr.org/51c2f1ba6.html">said Mr. Guterres, who is
currently in Jordan with UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie meeting
with Syrian refugees.

Mr. Guterres said he feared "that an entire nation is being left to
self-destruct as it empties itself of its people," and was worried
that "with no clear political resolution in sight, this civil war is
in real danger of sliding into a regional conflict."

For her part, Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the World Food
Programme (WFP), stressed that the international community has a
responsibility to advocate on behalf of displaced people everywhere,
and added that the situation in Syria is particularly worrying due to
its scale.

"Every woman, man and child who has left behind homes, family, jobs,
education and lives in search of security and safety deserve our
attention and, most importantly, our assistance," she
<"http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/world-refugee-day-needs-displaced-everywhere-must-be-remembered">said.

"For over two years, the world has witnessed millions of Syrians
fleeing their homes, escaping from violence in search of a safe haven
[...] The needs of conflict-affected Syrians are huge, almost too big
to comprehend," she said, adding that WFP hopes to reach 7 million
displaced persons inside and outside Syria.

To mark the Day, UNHCR has organized events across the world in
conjunction with its partners. These include film screenings, panel
discussions, food bazaars, light shows, cultural performances,
concerts and sport contests, among other events.

In Australia, UNHCR's office announced the 12 winners of its World
Refugee Day Art Contest, which asked participants to examine the
theme "1 Family torn apart by war is too many." In Japan, student
designers held a fashion show of UN blue-themed costumes from 20
refugee-producing and hosting countries, and in the Republic of
Korea, a "Friends of UNHCR" initiative kicked off with about 20
parliamentarians committed to working together for refugee
protection.

Refugee film festivals also opened in Hong Kong and Thailand to give
the public a glimpse into the lives and experiences of refugees. In
the Philippines, pedicab drivers – many of them refugees – wore
World Refugee Day T-shirts to raise awareness of displacement issues
in the region.

In Syria, UNHCR and its partners are organizing arts, sports and
social activities for refugees and host communities in areas like
Damascus, Aleppo and Homs. In neighboring Iraq, Syrian refugees in
and around the northern city of Erbil were set to perform traditional
Kurdish songs for an audience at the famous Citadel while refugees in
the southern city of Basra will be treated to mobile theatre.

African countries also took part in the Day's commemoration. In
Kenya, UNHCR hosted the African premiere of "A Hijacking," a film
about piracy off the coast of Somalia that reflects how a lack of
alternatives can drive displaced youth to take drastic measures. In
Tanzania, a photo exhibition showcases the works of Congolese
refugees and local children.

In addition, United States-based refugee marathon runner Guor Marial
is leading a five kilometre run in his native South Sudan, where he
recently returned with the help of UNHCR after 20 years.Jun 20 2013
11:00AM
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