Quetta: The UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with Commissioner Afghan Refugees celebrated the World Refugee Day on Monday 20 June with a series of events across Balochistan involving the Government of Balochistan, UNHCR, its partners, and refugee communities. This year the theme of the World Refugee Day is “We stand together with the refugees”.
Around the world today, people are commemorating World Refugee Day as an occasion to honor the strength and the courage of those who have been forced to flee their countries because of persecution, conflict and violence.
To commemorate the event, in Balochistan UNHCR with the help of its partner agencies organized different programmes across Refugee Villages and in Afghan refugee settlement. Besides, in the major event at Boys Scouts Headquarter in Quetta different stalls were set up where handicrafts of Refugee Women were put on display.
In the welcome speech Commissioner Afghan Refugees appraised the role of UNHCR and Government of Balochistan. He further added, ““World Refugee Day is a moment to remember all those affected, and a time to intensify our support,” he stressed, while adding: “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.”
Home Secretary Balochistan Dr Muhammad Akbar graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He lauded the services of UN Refugee Agency and its works to alleviate the suffering of the refugees across the world, which has become one of the mega challenges in the present scenario.
During his speech he added, “World Refugee Day also reminds us of our failures as an international community. There are too many refugees in the world today – some 15 million people. And there are too many internally displaced persons (IDPs) – some 28 million people – who have been forced from their homes by conflict but remain within the borders of their own countries.” He further added that, “Pakistan has generously hosted the world’s largest refugee population for more than three decades, and it is necessary to mobilize more support from the international community to sustain efforts such as the RAHA initiative.”
UNHCR Head of Balochistan Mr. Dinesh Lal Shrestha while addressing to the audience said, “We are thankful to Pakistan and its people in the vicinity of refugees hosting areas for upholding their proud history of hospitality and maintaining a harmonious relations. He further added that, “UNHCR firmly believes that the refugees will continue to be accorded the generous support and will be treated in accordance to the international humanitarian principles. He further reiterated internal communities to sharing the burden and seeking durable solutions for afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Balochistan host around 303,702registered afghan refugees, the majority of whom which live in urban settlement alongside their Pakistani hosts. Since 2002, over 630,000 thousand Afghan refugees have returned home from Balochistan, assisted through the largest voluntary repatriation programme in UNHCR’s history.
The RAHA initiative in Balochistan, seeks to ensure that not only Afghan refugees but also their host communities can benefit through the improvement of key facilities in the sectors of health, education, water and sanitation.
Press Release
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