UN chief urges “political will & leadership” to end conflicts
--as 42 million forcibly displaced worldwide
Ahead of World Refugee Day this Wednesday, June 20 the United Nations has said more than 42 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes and communities around the world.
In a message to mark the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon said countries worldwide “must work together to mobilize the political will and leadership to prevent and end the conflicts that trigger refugee flows.”
The UN Secretary General’s call comes amid no sign of aging conflicts coming to an end such as the Somalia and the Palestinian-Israeli crisis.
Also, there are new conflicts springing up including the one in the West African state of Mali with the partitioning of the north by rebels, which has triggered the influx of over 170,000 refugees into neighbouring countries.
UN Refugee Day is an annual commemoration every June 20 to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.
Full text of the UN chief’s message below:
“More than 42 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes and communities. More than a million fled their countries in the last eighteen months alone due to a wave of conflicts, in Cote d’Ivoire, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. These numbers represent far more than statistics; they are individuals and families whose lives have been upended, whose communities have been destroyed, and whose future remains uncertain.
World Refugee Day is a moment to remember all those affected, and a time to intensify our support.
Four out of five refugees are in developing countries, and have benefitted from the remarkable generosity of host countries that themselves face serious deprivations. The Islamic Republics of Pakistan and Iran host the largest number of refugees, with over two and half million between them. Tunisia and Liberia are also among countries that, despite their own national challenges, maintained open borders and shared scarce water, land and other resources for those suffering the impact of armed violence.
Kenya’s third biggest city is a refugee camp and hosts over half a million Somalis, many in their third decade of exile. Niger, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso -- suffering famine and drought -- now host some 175,000 refugees fleeing conflict in Mali. These countries cannot be left to shoulder this burden alone.
The United Nations – and in particular the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees – is working to address all of these challenges, while also providing protection and assistance to 15.5 million persons displaced within their own countries. We are also focusing on preventing and reducing statelessness. But humanitarian assistance is not enough.
This recent UNHCR Global Trends report shows that displacement is outpacing solutions. We must work together to mobilize the political will and leadership to prevent and end the conflicts that trigger refugee flows. Where security is restored, we must address the underlying causes of conflict, allowing sustainable refugee return through access to livelihoods, services and the rule of law.
Despite budget constraints everywhere, we must not turn away from those in need. Refugees leave because they have no choice. We must choose to help.
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
MESSAGE ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY
20 June 2011
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