‘Redoubled’ Efforts On Forced Displacment Needed

Ban Calls For ‘Redoubled’ Efforts On Causes And Consequences Of Forced Displacement

New York, Jun 20 2008 9:00AM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has marked World Refugee Day today with a call for greater international solidarity to protect victims of forced displacement across the globe.

“I urgently call on the international community to redouble efforts to address both the causes and consequences of forced human displacement,” Mr. Ban said, noting that the worldwide number of refugees had grown to more than 16 million in the past year.

The Secretary-General stressed that, since the adoption of the UN Refugee Convention in 1951, human displacement has become a far more complex issue.

“Conflict and poverty, the most common reasons people are compelled to leave their homes, are now amplified by the effects of climate change, increasing scarcity of resources and food shortages – factors which may lead to greater insecurity in the future,” he stressed.

Mr. Ban also noted that the responsibility of providing asylum for refugees currently falls “disproportionately” on developing nations.

“Contrary to public perceptions in many industrialized nations, developing countries actually bear the burden of hosting a larger number of refugees, despite their limited resources,” he said.

He added that the goal of the international community should be to ensure that refugees would be free one day to return home in safety and dignity.

Meanwhile the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres said in a statement that “Refugees show incredible courage and perseverance in overcoming enormous odds to rebuild their lives. Ensuring that they get the protection they deserve is a noble cause because refugee rights are human rights – and rights that belong to us all.

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors actress Angelina Jolie and opera singer Barbara Hendricks also made statements to mark World Refugee Day, as did Pope Benedict XVI.

“Refugees are people forced to flee from their countries as a result of true life-threatening dangers. From the heart I hope that these – our brothers and sisters so tried by suffering – are guaranteed asylum and the recognition of their rights,” he said.

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