World Refugee Day, commemorated on Friday, comes at a time when global conflicts, human rights violations, and the impact of climate change continue to displace tens of thousands of people each year, forcing them to seek refuge in other countries.
Established by the United Nations on December 4, 2000, World Refugee Day is observed on June 20 to raise awareness of the plight and needs of refugees. The first celebration took place on June 20, 2001, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and aligning with the previously observed African Refugee Day.
A report released on June 12 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) revealed that 122.1 million people had been forcibly displaced worldwide as of the end of April due to war, violence, or persecution—marking the tenth consecutive year of increasing global displacement. Sudan, where conflict has raged since April 2023, now tops the list with 14.3 million forcibly displaced persons.
This year’s commemoration takes place as the zionist entity continues its deadly aggression on the Palestinian people. Despite the ongoing war of extermination in Gaza since October 2023 and attacks on the occupied West Bank, Palestinians remain steadfast on their land, firmly rejecting all displacement plans and vowing that the Nakba of 1948 will not be repeated.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reports that over six million Palestinian refugees, both within the occupied territories and abroad, are currently registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for global solidarity with refugees, emphasizing their potential contributions to host countries and the importance of integrating them into local societies and economies until conditions allow for safe return. “When given the opportunity, refugees can make significant contributions to their host communities, but they need access to jobs, housing, and healthcare,” he stated.
Guterres also highlighted the international community’s collective responsibility to aid and protect refugees and uphold their rights.
In this context, Algeria remains firmly committed to supporting refugees. It has consistently provided protection and assistance, while backing UNHCR efforts. During a UN Security Council meeting on migration and refugees in April, Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amar Bendjama, stressed the need for sustained and coordinated efforts to address the refugee crisis, emphasizing conflict resolution, ending foreign occupation, and tackling underdevelopment as root solutions.
Likewise, at the 89th meeting of the UNHCR Standing Committee in March 2024, Algeria’s permanent representative in Geneva, Rachid Bladehane, reiterated Algeria’s longstanding support for the thousands of refugees it hosts, in line with international law.
