UNHCR expresses solidarity with some 68.5 million displaced people

ISLAMABAD: The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and GiZ (German Development Cooperation) marked the World Refugee Day on Wednesday and expressed solidarity with some 68.5 million people who had been displaced across the world at the end of 2017.

According to UNHCR’s annual report, an average of one person was displaced in every two seconds in 2017 – with developing countries most affected. About 85 per cent of the world’s refugees are hosted by the developing countries. Refugees who have fled their countries to escape conflict and persecution accounted for 25.4 million of the 68.5 million.

This is 2.9 million more than in 2016 – the biggest increase UNHCR has seen in a single year. People displaced inside their country accounted for 40 million of the total, slightly fewer than the 40.3 million in 2016. Leading global displacement during 2017 was the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the war in South Sudan and the flight into Bangladesh from Myanmar of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Afghan refugees living in south-west Asia remain one of the world’s most protracted refugee populations. Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the last four decades. Federal Minister Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific Director Indrika Ratwatte, German Ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler, senior government officials, and representatives from diplomatic missions, UN agencies and refugees attended the event which included an exhibition of refugee-made clothes and crafts, as well as traditional music and dancing from Afghanistan.

“Pakistan is the second-largest refugee-hosting country. We hope that you will all join us today in standing with the refugees,” said Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR’s representative in Pakistan. She appreciated and acknowledged the people and the government of Pakistan for hosting the Afghan refugees and called on the international community to support these refugees and their host communities besides providing assistance in Afghanistan to support the sustainable reintegration of returnees.

Roshan Bharucha said that the growing numbers of displacement globally and shifting humanitarian focus impacted Pakistan. She reiterated the government commitment to the voluntary, gradual, safe and dignified return of the Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan. “Our government has taken several steps to protect Afghan refugees in Pakistan,” she added.

German Ambassador Martin Kobler said that more than 68 million people have been displaced worldwide which is an all-time high. “This is a call for action for the international community,” he said. “I thank Pakistan for hosting millions of the Afghan refugees since many decades and I thank UNHCR for the work it is doing for refugees in dignity,” he added.

GIZ Country Director Tobias Becker said that Germany was committed to continue its support to Pakistan in managing one of the most protracted refugee situations in the world. On behalf of the German government, GIZ has been implementing projects in Pakistan since 2009.

UNHCR in Pakistan also signed a statement of cooperation with the fashion designer of FnkAsia, Huma Adnan. The UN body will collaborate with the FnkAsia to arrange skills training for refugees and promote the products created by them. The aim is to create livelihood opportunities for the refugees leading to a dignified life for them and their families.