World Refugee Day is held to increase awareness of refugees globally. It is observed June 20 every year.
This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. It is also 60 years since UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, was established.
No one wants to become a refugee. No one should have to endure this humiliating and arduous ordeal. Yet, millions do. Even one refugee forced to flee, one refugee forced to return to danger is one too many, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the letter to UN website.
There were 43.7 million displaced people worldwide at the end of 2010, up from 43.3 million a year before according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Romania's Parliament Palace, the largest administrative building in the world is lit in blue to mark the World Refugee Day in Bucharest June 20, 2011. The number of people forced to flee their homes to escape war or abuse has risen to its highest for 15 years, with four out of five refugees in developing countries, the United Nations said on Monday. In all, there were 43.7 million displaced people worldwide at the end of 2010, up from 43.3 million a year before, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.ReutersEthiopian refugees perform an Oromo traditional dance during celebrations to mark World Refugee Day in Kenya's capital Nairobi, June 20, 2011. The number of people forced to flee their homes to escape war or abuse has risen to its highest for 15 years, with four out of five refugees in developing countries, the United Nations said on Monday. In all, there were 43.7 million displaced people worldwide at the end of 2010, up from 43.3 million a year before, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.ReutersBurundian refugees perform an Oromo traditional dance during celebrations to mark World Refugee Day in Kenya's capital Nairobi June 20, 2011. The number of people forced to flee their homes to escape war or abuse has risen to its highest for 15 years, with four out of five refugees in developing countries, the United Nations said on Monday. In all, there were 43.7 million displaced people worldwide at the end of 2010, up from 43.3 million a year before, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.ReutersSomali refugees perform a traditional dance during celebrations to mark World Refugee Day in Kenya's capital Nairobi June 20, 2011. The number of people forced to flee their homes to escape war or abuse has risen to its highest for 15 years, with four out of five refugees in developing countries, the United Nations said on Monday. In all, there were 43.7 million displaced people worldwide at the end of 2010, up from 43.3 million a year before, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.ReutersA child sleeps while Afghan refugees wait to be repatriated from a center in Peshawar, Pakistan June 20, 2011. ReutersA refugee from Myanmar's ethnic Chin minority holds a placard during a protest rally to mark World Refugee Day in New Delhi June 20, 2011. Hundreds of refugees on Monday held a protest to highlight what they said were ongoing problems and the political crisis in Myanmar.ReutersA young refugee from Myanmar's ethnic Chin minority sleeps amidst placards during a protest rally to mark World Refugee Day in New Delhi June 20, 2011. Hundreds of refugees on Monday held a protest to highlight what they said were ongoing problems and the political crisis in Myanmar.Reuters
