By IRNA,
Tehran : The UN refugee agency, in its 60th year, will mark World Refugee Day, June 20, with a rich and varied program of events all over the world.
According to a press release issued by the United Nations Refugee Agency here on Monday, the event will be marked all over the globe including Iran and the launch of a new global awareness campaign; the “One” campaign, which will
start rolling out today. The campaign will carry the message that even ‘One Refugee Without Hope is too Many”.
This year, on World Refugee Day, UNHCR will also be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. “Whether in remote camps or in nearby neighbourhoods, there are always ways with which we can help refugees. This year once again we need to reflect on the solidarity expressed 60 years ago – to help the most vulnerable – and “Do 1 Thing” to show we are “1 who cares” and believe that even “1 refugee is too many” said Bernard Doyle, UNHCR-Iran Representative.
UNHCR will be dedicating more than a single day to celebrating World Refugee Day 2011 in Iran. This is due to the multiple significance of the big Day this year. Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva will be UNHCR Iran’s special guest during this week.
Celebrations will be held on several days spanning a week. In Tehran celebrations will kick off with a friendly football match between refugees, UN staff, embassies, government Officials, artists from Iran, Artists Sports Club, and League Football Players. A short musical performance and karate performance by refugees will be included. Another high-light of the day is to be a photo exhibition and Afghan handicrafts bazaar that will go on till Friday June 24.
The UNHCR Iran representative said, “On this day, which is the day for refugees worldwide, UNHCR would like to once again thank the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for all the services it has rendered to the second largest refugee population in the world for over three decades. The Iranian government has done this mainly from its own resources and it is necessary for the international community to step forward and do more to share this burden”
Based on statistics, there around one million Afghan registered refugees and some 42,000 Iraqi registered refugees residing in Iran.