{"id":163264,"date":"2020-06-22T12:01:22","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T11:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=163264"},"modified":"2020-06-21T06:31:49","modified_gmt":"2020-06-21T05:31:49","slug":"world-refugee-day-20-jun-end-conflict-that-drives-appalling-displacement-numbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/06\/world-refugee-day-20-jun-end-conflict-that-drives-appalling-displacement-numbers\/","title":{"rendered":"World Refugee Day, 20 Jun: End Conflict That Drives \u2018Appalling\u2019 Displacement Numbers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/em>In his message to mark World Refugee Day, the UN chief praised those nations and communities hosting refugees and internally displaced people, often amid their own economic and security challenges.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\u201cWe owe these countries our thanks, our support and our investment,<\/em>\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Record displacement<\/h3>\n

Global displacement is at a record high, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR<\/a>, reported on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Figures reached 79.5 million in 2019, with 10 million people fleeing in the past year alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn World Refugee Day, we pledge to do everything in our power to end the conflict and persecution that drive these appalling numbers\u201d, said Mr. Guterres.<\/p>\n

Stepping up to COVID-19<\/h3>\n

While refugees and internally displaced people are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19<\/a> pandemic, the Secretary-General commended them for stepping up on the frontlines of response.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom camps in Bangladesh to hospitals in Europe, refugees are working as nurses, doctors, scientists, teachers and in other essential roles, protecting themselves and giving back to the communities that host them\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn World Refugee Day, we thank refugees for their resourcefulness and determination to rebuild their own lives, and to improve the lives of those around them.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a recent policy brief, Mr. Guterres urged governments to ensure \u201cpeople on the move\u201d are included in pandemic response and recovery.<\/p>\n

\n