World Refugee Day observed

Exiled Bhutanese living in Nepal have participated in series of activities initiated by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR in Nepal to mark the world refugee day – June 20.

On Friday June 14 and Saturday June 15, exiled Bhutanese women representing the Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum (BRWF) and the Bhutanese Refugee Association of the Disabled (BRAD), exhibited their handicrafts including Dhaka handloom products which they were able to successfully market in three locations in Kathmandu– the Australian Embassy, the UN House and the very popular weekend Farmer’s Market. The exhibitions focused on income-generation activities and promotion of self-reliance among exiled Bhutanese, particularly women.

A Solidarity Walk/ Run event was held in central Kathmandu on Saturday, June 15, to mark World Refugee Day 2019. Approximately 300 people, including Refugees, host communities, partner agencies and members of Nepali civil society organisations participated in a solidarity walk to support and recognise UNHCR’s 2 Billion Kilometres to Safety campaign. Cultural performances by exiled Bhutanese, whose travel to Kathmandu was organised by UNHCR, as well as students and musicians from the host community also took place, reflecting and celebrating the strong and important bonds between them.

On Thursday June 20 Kathmandu’s iconic Durbar Square, a public promenade in the heart of the old city, was illuminated in ‘UNHCR blue’, to salute the courage and perseverance of millions of families forced to flee their homes and acknowledge the important role host communities in Nepal.

UNHCR Chief, Filippo Grandi, in a message said, ‘Each year, World Refugee Day is an important occasion on which we join forces with partners around the world, to draw attention to the plight of forcibly displaced and stateless people, and mobilise support and solidarity for the refugee cause. Our latest Global Trends report shows that the number of people forcibly displaced globally continues to rise, and has now reached 70.8 million, another record high.

He said, ‘as we mark World Refugee Day, it is important that we are able to go beyond the numbers, and help convey the brutal consequences of conflict, persecution and displacement, and the remarkable resilience of the people that find their way through these experiences, and rebuild their lives against the odds.’