World Refugee Day emphasises inclusive care for refugees
World Refugee Day, observed on 20 June each year, is a poignant reminder of the millions of individuals around the globe who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution or violence. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of refugees and celebrating their resilience, courage, and contributions to societies worldwide.
The day serves as a platform to highlight the challenges faced by refugees, including the risks they endure during their journeys to safety, the difficulties of displacement and the barriers they encounter in seeking asylum. It also emphasises the importance of international solidarity and compassion towards those forced to seek refuge in foreign lands.
Each year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) selects a theme to focus on specific issues affecting refugees. Themes have ranged from 'With courage let us all combine' to 'Step with Refugees - Take a Step on World Refugee Day' in recent years, reflecting ongoing global challenges and emphasising the need for collective action.
World Refugee Day encourages governments, organisations and individuals to come together to support refugees in rebuilding their lives with dignity. It calls for policies that protect their rights, provide access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities, and promote inclusion within host communities.
Despite the immense challenges refugees face, the day also celebrates their strength and resilience. Many refugees bring unique skills, cultural richness and a determination to contribute positively to their new communities. Their stories of survival and adaptation inspire solidarity and remind us of the importance of upholding human rights and dignity for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Contributors
In line with this year's theme, 'Solidarity with Refugees', the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week emphasised the importance of building inclusive health systems and ensuring equitable care for refugees worldwide.
UNHCR estimates that by mid-2023, over 110 million individuals worldwide were forcibly displaced, with 40% being children. 75% of these displaced individuals are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. Refugees are not merely recipients of care but active contributors to health systems globally, serving as skilled health care professionals, cultural mediators, and advocates for equitable access. Data from the WHO World Report on the health of refugees and migrants highlights their impactful roles, emphasising the importance of including refugees in decision-making processes, which enhances service quality and cultural competence.
Regional statistics
The UN's Refugee Agency's South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) serves nine countries: Namibia, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa.
Together, they host approximately 260 521 people of concern to UNHCR, 250 250 of whom are hosted in South Africa. Countries of origin of refugees and asylum-seekers include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.]
According to the reports, Namibia currently hosts around 7 000 refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom reside in the Osire Refugee Settlement located 225 km from the capital, Windhoek.
A report by the UN has stated that although Namibia’s encampment policy requires refugees and asylum-seekers to be accommodated at Osire Refugee Settlement, a small number of the caseload also resides in Windhoek and other urban areas. Refugees are largely integrated into the national systems with access to education, health, and job markets.
In Namibia and Botswana, UNHCR worked with government counterparts on verification exercises for refugees and asylum-seekers in the respective countries to streamline population figures and ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers are correctly documented.
UNHCR and the government cooperate to provide protection assistance to the population of concern, as well as food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and livelihood activities.
The UNHCR supports the home affairs and immigration ministry in providing protection and basic and essential services to refugees and asylum seekers in partnership with two non-governmental organisations: the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and the Society for Family Health (SFH).
The day serves as a platform to highlight the challenges faced by refugees, including the risks they endure during their journeys to safety, the difficulties of displacement and the barriers they encounter in seeking asylum. It also emphasises the importance of international solidarity and compassion towards those forced to seek refuge in foreign lands.
Each year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) selects a theme to focus on specific issues affecting refugees. Themes have ranged from 'With courage let us all combine' to 'Step with Refugees - Take a Step on World Refugee Day' in recent years, reflecting ongoing global challenges and emphasising the need for collective action.
World Refugee Day encourages governments, organisations and individuals to come together to support refugees in rebuilding their lives with dignity. It calls for policies that protect their rights, provide access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities, and promote inclusion within host communities.
Despite the immense challenges refugees face, the day also celebrates their strength and resilience. Many refugees bring unique skills, cultural richness and a determination to contribute positively to their new communities. Their stories of survival and adaptation inspire solidarity and remind us of the importance of upholding human rights and dignity for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Contributors
In line with this year's theme, 'Solidarity with Refugees', the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week emphasised the importance of building inclusive health systems and ensuring equitable care for refugees worldwide.
UNHCR estimates that by mid-2023, over 110 million individuals worldwide were forcibly displaced, with 40% being children. 75% of these displaced individuals are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. Refugees are not merely recipients of care but active contributors to health systems globally, serving as skilled health care professionals, cultural mediators, and advocates for equitable access. Data from the WHO World Report on the health of refugees and migrants highlights their impactful roles, emphasising the importance of including refugees in decision-making processes, which enhances service quality and cultural competence.
Regional statistics
The UN's Refugee Agency's South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) serves nine countries: Namibia, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa.
Together, they host approximately 260 521 people of concern to UNHCR, 250 250 of whom are hosted in South Africa. Countries of origin of refugees and asylum-seekers include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.]
According to the reports, Namibia currently hosts around 7 000 refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom reside in the Osire Refugee Settlement located 225 km from the capital, Windhoek.
A report by the UN has stated that although Namibia’s encampment policy requires refugees and asylum-seekers to be accommodated at Osire Refugee Settlement, a small number of the caseload also resides in Windhoek and other urban areas. Refugees are largely integrated into the national systems with access to education, health, and job markets.
In Namibia and Botswana, UNHCR worked with government counterparts on verification exercises for refugees and asylum-seekers in the respective countries to streamline population figures and ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers are correctly documented.
UNHCR and the government cooperate to provide protection assistance to the population of concern, as well as food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and livelihood activities.
The UNHCR supports the home affairs and immigration ministry in providing protection and basic and essential services to refugees and asylum seekers in partnership with two non-governmental organisations: the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and the Society for Family Health (SFH).
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