(June, 20, 2012) World Refugee Day observed on June 20 each year, is dedicated to
raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. The United Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his message for the day said “We must work together
to mobilize the political will and leadership to prevent and end the conflicts that
trigger refugee flows. Despite budget constraints everywhere, we must not turn away
from those in need. Refugees leave because they have no choice. We must choose to
help” he said. Today, more than 42 million people around the world have been forcibly
displaced from their homes and communities. More than a million have fled their countries
in the last 18 months alone, due to a wave of conflicts in the Ivory Coast, Libya,
Mali, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. Ban Ki -Moon’s message said these numbers represent
far more than statistics: they are individuals and families, whose lives have been
uprooted, whose communities have been destroyed and whose future remains uncertain.
He said World Refugee Day is a moment to remember all those affected, and a time
to intensify our support. Last Sunday in his midday Angelus message, Pope Benedict
XVI also referred to the UN World Refugee Day. The Holy Father noted that the purpose
of the day is to draw the international community’s attention to the situation of
so many persons, especially families, who are forced to feel their homelands because
of armed conflicts and grave forms of violence. According to estimates, four out
of five refugees are in developing countries and have benefitted from the remarkable
generosity of host countries . The theme of World Refugee Day 2012 is “Restoring
hope”.