UNHCR held activity for refugees in Syria

Refugees from Iraq, Palestine, the Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan displayed their cultural heritage and handicrafts during an activity held Monday by the UNHCR  in Damascus on the occasion of the World Refugee Day.

The activity held in the Iraqi Cultural Forum in Damascus included stories about the holy month of Ramadan [the month of fasting], according to the official news agency (SANA).

The agency added that Syrian displaced persons took part in the activity and displayed handicrafts and Ramadan dishes.

Some of the refugees said that the activity reflects cooperation and coexistence between Syrians and the refugees in Syria.

They thanked the Syrian government for the good hospitality, hoping that stability and peace will be restored to Syria.

Spokesman of the UNHCR in Syria, Firas la-khatib said that Syria has received millions of Palestinians, Lebanese and Iraqis through the history and it is still receiving refugees from different nationalities despite the crisis in it.

The U.N.’s refugee agency reports that the number of displaced people is at its highest ever — surpassing even post-World War II numbers.

The total at the end of 2015 reached 65.3 million — or one out of every 113 people on Earth, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The number represents a 5.8 million increase on the year before.

Petition for government action

On June 16th, 2016, the UNHCR launched a major campaign that asks the world to stand together with refugees. In a stunning video message more than 60 global celebrities join with refugees and aid workers to echo the message, “We stand with refugees, please stand with us.”The petition appeals for government action on behalf of the world’s forcibly displaced.

The campaign aims to demonstrate public support for families forced to flee against a backdrop of dramatically increased displacement from conflict and persecution on the one hand, and heightened anti-refugee rhetoric and greater restrictions to asylum on the other. The petition will be delivered in advance of September’s historic UN High-Level Plenary of the General Assembly on addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.

The United Nations’ (UN) World Refugee Day is observed on June 20 each year. This event honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

Basma Qaddour