Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Ahead of World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, Barham Salih highlighted the diverse contributions refugees make to host communities as workers, students, neighbors, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders. He noted that, given the opportunity, refugees rebuild their lives and strengthen societies.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for stronger support for people forced to flee and for the communities hosting them, emphasizing that ongoing conflicts compel millions to seek safety far from home. He described these as "turbulent times" that demand renewed solidarity and robust action to protect refugees.
Mr. Salih shared from personal experience the difficulty of fleeing home to seek safety, stressing that although someone may be defined as a refugee temporarily, that status should not define their life. He warned that millions of refugees remain dependent on dwindling humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian assistance is essential in emergencies, yet many refugees endure years or decades of prolonged displacement. Mr. Salih stated that being a refugee should be temporary and set a goal to reduce by half, within ten years, the number of refugees in protracted displacement reliant on aid.
Efforts to reach this target will focus on low and middle-income countries hosting most refugees. Achieving this would improve millions of lives and shift the approach from managing displacement to resolving it.
This year’s World Refugee Day also marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the treaty establishing the right to seek safety and protection for those fleeing war, conflict, or persecution. Mr. Salih emphasized the need to uphold this promise, stating that until everyone is safe, none are safe, and called for collective action to defend the right to seek safety.