World Refugee Day, celebrated globally on June 20, is a day to honor the strength and resilience of refugees worldwide.
The special day allows us to learn more about refugees' challenges and show our support for them. There are many ways to get involved, such as donating to refugee organizations, volunteering your time, or spreading awareness about the issue.
World Refugee Day 2023: What You Should Know
ZAHONY, HUNGARY - MARCH 03: A refugee girl carries a sibling after arriving at the Hungarian border town of Zahony on a train that has come from Ukraine on March 03, 2022 in Zahony, Hungary. Refugees from Ukraine have fled into neighboring countries such as Hungary, forming long queues at border crossings, after Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations agency specifically for refugees, World Refugee Day is celebrated every year on June 20. The special day honors people compelled to leave their home country to escape persecution or conflict.
There are millions of folks across the world who consider themselves refugees. The UNHCR reveals that more than 82.4 million people had no choice but to flee their homes due to war, violence, and persecution.
The special day is here to remind us of their struggles and celebrate their indomitable spirit and their contributions to our communities.
On top of that, it serves as a platform to promote empathy, solidarity, and understanding towards refugees. On top of that, it seeks to encourage individuals, communities, and governments to recognize the unique challenges faced by forcibly displaced individuals and to take action to provide them with protection, assistance, and solutions.
Besides extending displaced individuals a helping hand, it is also a day to stand up for the rights of refugees and to advocate for their inclusion and integration within societies.
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UNHCR and World Refugee Day
The UNHCR, the United Nations agency responsible for protecting refugees and resolving displacement issues globally, plays a crucial role in organizing World Refugee Day.
Its official website serves as an information hub, providing resources, inspiring personal stories, and various ways to get involved. Additionally, visitors to the site could also send their donations to refugees worldwide.
UNHCR says, "By making a donation, you can help protect more forcibly displaced people around the world." It also notes that refugee assistance helps them prepare themselves to go back to their home.
According to MSN, the UN launched World Refugee Day in 2000. And since then, the special day honors people who flee their homes every June 20.
The Idaho Office for Refugees celebrated the special day last Saturday, June 17, by kicking off a civil ceremony. It enables refugees to get their citizenship upon passing an exam and having been a resident in the US for at least five years. The celebration showcases entertaining dance and musical performances and meals worldwide.
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