ISLAMABAD:World Refugee Day is being observed today (Monday) to honour the courage, strength and determination of refugees who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.
The day also aims to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives. This year’s theme of the day is “Seeking safety is a human right. Wherever they come from, people forced to flee should be welcomed”.
According to the latest factsheet issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan continues to be one of the world’s largest refugees hosting countries, providing safety to some 1.4 million people forced to flee their countries.
These include mainly Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration, besides a small number of refugees and asylum-seekers from other countries such as Myanmar, Yemen, Somalia and Syria. For more than forty years, Pakistan has a long and commendable tradition of providing protection to refugees and asylum-seekers.