UN World Refugee Day

UN World Refugee Day

Did you know that every day thousands of people leave their homes to escape war or terror? World Refugee Day is a day to support refugees worldwide and help them rebuild their lives.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.

Preparation

Across the world there are currently over 100 million people who have had to leave their homes. Some have settled in new countries; many more are living in refugee camps, waiting for it to be safe enough to go home or settle in a different country. The United Nations decided that refugees should have a special day, when we think of them and show our support. The first World Refugee Day was on 20 June 2001, and it's been celebrated every year since then. 

Why is World Refugee Day important? 

More people than ever before have been forced to leave their countries, and very few of them have been able to return. Every moment of the day, people are leaving everything behind to escape war, persecution or the devastating effects of climate change and natural disasters. A refugee crisis on this scale is difficult to deal with, but the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, reminds us that 'the problems are war and hatred, not people who flee'. 

The aim of World Refugee Day 

World Refugee Day helps to raise awareness of the dangerous and difficult situation refugees are in. Safety is a human right, and the message of World Refugee Day is that everyone has the right to seek safety. The aim of the day is to create empathy and understanding, and to get political and practical support to help refugees. It is also a day to recognise the bravery and strength of people who have to face many dangers and difficulties to rebuild their lives. 

What happens on World Refugee Day? 

There are a lot of events on 20 June in different countries. These events are often organised by, or involve, refugees themselves. Many famous landmarks, such as the Tokyo Tower in Tokyo and the Empire State Building in New York, are covered in blue lights to show solidarity with refugees. In Glasgow, Scotland, people hold hands to form an enormous human chain around George Square, in the city centre, to 'show the world that Scotland welcomes refugees'. In many places there are film showings, exhibitions and various fundraising events. 

What you can do to help 

There are petitions worldwide, organised by the United Nations. By adding your name to the list, you are sending the message that every person has the right to seek safety. You can also make donations to charities that support refugees, or write letters to your governments asking them to take action. People are also getting involved in action against climate change and its effects, to prevent more people becoming climate refugees.

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Discussion

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Submitted by cesurb on Sat, 27/05/2023 - 22:22

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First of all, we need to realize who the refugees are. Refugees are not travelers and they don’t want to leave their country. Mostly they just want to live as ordinary people and to be safe in their country. Sometimes, even if fleeing their country is not the best option, they may be forced to leave their country. So World Refugee Day helps us to understand what situation they are in.

In addition, they sometimes need to leave because of global warming and climate change occurring in their own regions. What would you do if these events happened where you live? That’s why, we should stop for a moment and think about their lives. We cannot be apathetic towards the situation they live in. For example, there are many refugees in Turkey because of the internal Syria war. So I talked to a few refugees to understand their lives and why they left their country. Next, I asked them what they are doing here. According to me, their life is very difficult. We should help them until the war is over and afterwards we should help them return to their country and build a life in their country.

To conclude, World Refugee Day raises awareness so we can understand them. We should celebrate the day all over the world. I wish for a better world for people all over the world. I hope everything will be better.

Submitted by 1Enginner on Fri, 30/12/2022 - 12:36

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Hi everyone,
it is really a sadly situation. Especially Women, children survive in their counry because of war, famine, terror and a lots of reasons. We should be aware of situation becase this situation can be in your country, too. In last 20 years , Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and it non advenced counties like these still have exploited because of their fertile land and plenty underground sources.

Submitted by AHMED-star on Sun, 12/06/2022 - 09:27

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in my oppinion i thing to reduce some of refugee crisis each one can adobt a refugee child and consider him like one member of the family and to start that suppose to make initiative with name (adopt a refugee child)

Submitted by Thinthinmyoe on Sun, 04/07/2021 - 06:53

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I'm so sad reading about this article.Because, we are facing this war crisis because of the Military Coup.There are many thousands of people who have left from their homes in our country.Please help all the refugees in the world including our country.

Submitted by Stela Stoycheva on Tue, 15/06/2021 - 11:18

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That which I read for UN World Refugee Day was really interesting for me, I know in the world have many refugee, but I didn`t expect they`re like that number. I teach now about that Refugee Day... I really hope the world will be change it soon in better way for everyone.

Submitted by PARIMALA MADIAZHAKAN on Wed, 24/02/2021 - 03:58

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Yes definitely I learn more about refugees . There are million refugees were stayed in my country. In Malaysia almost 68% of refugees and asylum-seekers are men, while 32% are women. Refugees also have some rights to stay in other countries. We need to give them same level of respect because they also a human being that can be threated well. As a human we want against the conflicts and war around the world. It can help to reduction the number of refugeen around the world.

Submitted by Rad on Sat, 09/01/2021 - 14:22

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actually refugees all around the world go through hard times. So world refugee day has to be more glorified . besides, everyone must do Something to help the day get more famous ; at least by sharing some sort of clue about this real special day on thier own social media accounts. Because I beleive that the vast mojority of people do not even know it exists. Then the so-called letters that ppl send their Government mostly have no impact at all. However donations do.
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Submitted by danisep on Wed, 06/01/2021 - 16:57

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I even didn't know that exist one day about refugees, here in America we know that there is a terrible conflict in those countries but we cannot imagine how deep that situation is. This magazine helps me to be more conscious about the problems that are facing the world nowadays and looking for ways to help those people, like not contempt them or being reluctant instead give them a hand when someone needs it.

Submitted by cittàutopica on Sat, 26/12/2020 - 17:36

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Unfortunately the Refugee issue is one of the most serious question of our age; I think it's very difficult to find out a solution, because the reasons at the basis of this problem are numerous and various. Nevertheless each one of us can do something for raising awareness of this situation and helping the volunteers and the charities who work in this field.

Submitted by Min Htet Kaung on Sat, 18/07/2020 - 16:38

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As a country which has the longest civil war, there are a lot of refugees in our country, Myanmar, since getting independence from British. As a Myanmar citizen, I hope the civil government led by Aung San Suu Kyi can make the conflict between ethnic armed groups and military come to an end.