| De: |
"Rebecca Cohn" |
| Sujet: |
BAN KI-MOON MARKS WORLD REFUGEE DAY - JUNE 20
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| Envoyé: |
Jun 21st, 2007 - 14:35:09 |
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BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH WORLD'S REFUGEES New
York, Jun 20 2007 11:00AM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today marked
World
Refugee Day by
issuing a global reminder to not forget the plight of the nearly 10
million men, women and children who are forced to leave their homes and
a call for greater international solidarity to meet their humanitarian
needs.
"Let us recall what sets these families, children and elderly apart from
others on the move around the globe. The difference is that they cannot
go home," Mr. Ban said in his
message
marking the Day.
While millions of those fleeing their homes depend on the UN for
material aid, they also need refuge and legal protection, which begins
with an understanding by governments and individuals alike that
"refugees are not exiles by choice," he stated.
According to the latest data from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), the number of refugees worldwide has risen for the first time
in five years, largely due to the violence in Iraq, and the number of
internally displaced persons
(IDPs
) has nearly doubled.
"As humankind enjoys unprecedented mobility, with more people than ever
before changing countries and even continents in pursuit of better
opportunities, let us remember that not everyone who leaves home does so
by choice," Mr. Ban stated.
Refugees do not leave their homes and villages willingly, but are forced
to do so by conflict or persecution. In many cases, Mr. Ban said, "they
are fleeing for their very lives, trying to find safety, protection and
a way to meet their most basic needs."
Leaving home, he added, has meant "traumatic experiences of uncertainty,
deprivation and intolerance."
Drawing attention to the growing numbers of those seeking refuge within
their own countries, "living in refugee-like conditions within their
borders," Mr. Ban also emphasized that IDPs have the same need for
protection and assistance, education and a safe environment. 2007-06-20
00:00:00.000
___________________
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to:
http://radio.un.org/
Rebecca Cohn
Communications Officer/Agente des Communications
United Nations Association in Canada/Association canadienne pour les
Nations Unies
300-309 rue Cooper Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0G5
+1(613) 232-5751x.245
www.unac.org
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