World Refugee Day: A Call to Solidarity and Action

 By Tahir Ali Shah

Today, on World Refugee Day, observed annually on June 20th since 2001, honors the resilience and determination of millions of people displaced by conflict, persecution, or disaster. The day was established by the UN to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which shines a light on the rights, needs, and dreams of refugees. This year's theme, "Solidarity with Refugees," emphasizes supporting those uprooted and ensuring they are not alone in their struggles.

The concept of refugee protection originated in the post-World War II era with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 14), recognizing the right to seek asylum. The 1951 Refugee Convention defined refugee status and established fundamental protections, including non-refoulement. Subsequent treaties and conventions have expanded refugee rights, emphasizing protection, dignity, and the chance to rebuild lives.

World Refugee Day is crucial today because displacement continues to escalate. The day highlights the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations, including children, women, and minorities, and connects refugee issues to the broader development agenda. By recognizing refugee humanity and dignity, we reaffirm our commitment to global peace and justice.

The 1951 Refugee Convention defined who is a refugee and codified fundamental protections, including the principle of non-refoulement. Over time, subsequent treaties and conventions have expanded refugee rights, emphasizing the need for protection, dignity, and a chance to rebuild their lives.

World Refugee Day matters because the challenges driving people from their homes continue to grow. The day highlights the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations, including children, women, and minorities, and ties refugee issues to the broader development agenda. By recognizing the humanity and dignity of refugees, we reaffirm our commitment to global peace and justice.

Global Refugee and Displacement Snapshot (2024–2025)

Category	Statistic	Notes	Source
Forcibly Displaced People	129.9 million	Includes refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, and stateless persons	UNHCR (May 2025)
Refugees (across borders)	43.4 million	Includes 5.8M Palestinians under UNRWA and 37.6M under UNHCR	UNHCR
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)	73.5 million	Highest ever recorded; up from 67.2M in 2023	UNHCR (2024)
Refugee Children	19 million	~40% of all refugees globally	UNICEF (2023)
Stateless Persons	4.4 million	Often denied basic rights and services	HIAS, UNHCR
Top 10 Refugee-Hosting Countries	See below	Hosting over 50% of global refugee population	UNHCR (2024)
Funding Gap for Refugee Response	52%	UNHCR received $5.18B out of $10.7B needed in 2024	UNHCR
Resettled Refugees (2024)	188,800	Highest number recorded—but still <0.5% of need	UNHCR
Returns (to home areas)	9.8 million	Mostly IDPs; voluntary returns are often unsafe or premature	UNHCR
Climate-Displaced Persons	32 million (2023)	Often unrecognized under international law	IDMC, UNDRR

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Top 10 Refugee-Hosting Countries (2024 Data)

Rank	Country	Population	% of Global Total	Notable Context
1	Türkiye	3.4 million+	~8%	Mainly Syrians under temporary protection
2	Iran	3.3 million+	~7.6%	Mostly Afghans; limited legal status
3	Colombia	2.5 million	~5.8%	Mainly Venezuelans with temporary permits
4	Germany	2.1 million	~4.8%	Largest refugee population in Europe
5	Pakistan	1.7 million	~3.9%	Long-term Afghan refugee population
6	Uganda	1.5 million	~3.4%	Progressive open-door policy
7	Russia	1.3 million	~3.0%	Including Ukrainian refugees and others
8	Sudan	1.2 million+	~2.8%	Refugee and IDP crises compounded
9	Bangladesh	950,000+	~2.2%	Nearly all Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar
10	Ethiopia	940,000	~2.1%	Hosting South Sudanese, Eritreans, others

73% of refugees live in neighboring low- and middle-income countries—not in high-income states.

Less than 1% of refugees are resettled globally each year.

The average length of displacement for protracted refugee situations is now over 17 years.

Refugee children are 5 times more likely to be out of school than non-refugee peers.

Only 24 out of 195 countries have formal national integration strategies for refugees.

The 2025 theme, "Solidarity with Refugees," calls for concrete support and action. Governments, communities, and individuals can show solidarity by opening doors, providing protection, and ensuring refugees have access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods. Around the world, events and campaigns will be held to raise awareness and promote solidarity, including awareness-raising campaigns, cultural performances, and advocacy efforts.

Humanitarian leaders and experts stress the urgency of the day, calling for expanded support, protection, and durable solutions. They emphasize the need for concrete commitments, including improving asylum laws, funding humanitarian responses, and including refugees in national development plans.

Despite progress, significant challenges remain, including funding shortfalls, restrictive asylum policies, and xenophobic backlash. Refugee law itself has gaps, particularly regarding stateless persons and those displaced by climate-related disasters. Sustained political will and resources are needed to close these gaps and ensure refugees receive the protection and support they need.

On World Refugee Day, every individual can make a difference. Donate to trusted organizations, volunteer time, advocate for humane policies, and share refugee stories to counter misinformation. Community groups can organize events, and schools can educate students about refugee issues. Each action expresses solidarity and brings us closer to a world where refugees find refuge, belonging, and hope.

Effective Solutions:

To provide effective solutions for the global refugee crisis, a comprehensive approach is essential: first, strengthen international protection and asylum systems by reaffirming the principle of non-refoulement, expanding legal frameworks to include vulnerable groups like climate-displaced and stateless persons, and ensuring high-income countries share responsibility by increasing resettlement and support, as only 188,800 refugees were resettled in 2024, representing less than 0.5% of the need, while 73% of refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income nations. Second, enhance access to essential services and livelihoods by prioritizing education for refugee children (who are five times more likely to be out of school), ensuring comprehensive healthcare access, and facilitating livelihood opportunities through legal pathways and vocational training to foster self-reliance. Third, increase and diversify funding for humanitarian responses, as evidenced by the 52% funding gap in 2024 with UNHCR receiving only $5.18 billion out of $10.7 billion needed, while also exploring innovative financing mechanisms and directly supporting host communities that bear a significant burden. Finally, foster social inclusion and counter Xenophobia  by developing formal national integration strategies (currently only 24 out of 195 countries have them), actively combating misinformation, and empowering refugee voices in policy development and community initiatives to ensure dignity and belonging, especially given the average displacement length of over 17 years for protracted situations.

For further information or inquiries, please reach out to the following regional UNHCR & IOM contacts:

·       UNHCR: +41 22 739 8111 (Global Headquarters), To report misconduct or fraud, reach out directly to the UNHCR Inspector General’s Office at phone +41 22 739 8844 for specific regional or country offices, you may visit their website or contact the global headquarters for redirection.

·       IOM: +43 1 581 2222 (Europe), +254 709 889 000 (East Africa), +94 11 2112 600 (Asia-Pacific), +44 20 7811 6000 (UK), +507 6950 1270 (Latin America), +1 212 681 7000 (North America)

Conclusion

World Refugee Day is a moment of shared humanity, reminding us that behind every statistic is a human story. As we honor those who have fled their homes, we pledge to be the reassuring answer to their questions about the future. By choosing solidarity, courage, and humanity, we can create a world where refugees are not alone and can rebuild their lives with dignity.

References

UNHCR. World Refugee Day. https://www.unhcr.org/world-refugee-day

SOS Children's Villages. World Refugee Day: Stories of Hope and Resilience https://www.sos-usa.org

UNICEF. Refugee and Migrant Children https://data.unicef.org

HIAS. Statelessness. https://www.hias.org

Humanitarian Insights, Development & Aid Analysis. https://tahir192828.blogspot.com

About the Author: Tahir Ali Shah is a humanitarian professional with over 20 years of experience managing protection and development programs across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He has worked extensively in refugee response, child protection, GBV prevention, and humanitarian advocacy. He can be reached at tshaha@gmail.com