Image by: David Mark from Pixabay
There are over 100 million forcibly displaced people across the world. Of these over 35 million are refugees, defined by the UN as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion”.
In 2023, over 50% of them come from just 3 countries – Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. This shows not just the impact of large-scale conflict but also the longevity of the refugee situation. Once you have become a refugee, it is hard to return home.
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
Sadly, we see growing resistance to helping refugees driven by the hardline, usually right-wing, politics of populists who have grown in stature and influence in recent years. Let’s take a moment to think about what we would want if we found ourselves in this situation. The Golden Rule never seemed more appropriate.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.