World Refugee Day 2010

Since 2001, June 20 has been officially acknowledged as World Refugee Day. This year’s theme is “Home”, highlighting the struggle of the over 40 million refugees around the world who are unable to live in their home communities. Nearly 15 million people are not able to return to their homes due to conflict and unrest. Five million of those refugees are Sudanese. Over the last few years, the number of refugees returning to their home countries has significantly declined. Only a quarter of a million refugees voluntarily returned to their countries of origin last year. Continued conflicts in places such as southern Sudan and Afghanistan are contributing factors to the displacement of these vulnerable populations.

Of the 2.5 million refugees trying to make a home in the United States, 22,000 are Sudanese. This World Refugee Day, there will be over 80 meet-ups of Sudanese community members, activists, and refugees discussing ways to better the lives of these refugees in communities around the world. Organizations such as the Save Darfur Coalition, the Genocide Prevention Network, and Voices for Sudan will be hosting potlucks this weekend, to encourage dialogue and the sharing of ideas over a shared meal.

For ideas on what you can do to organize an event for World Refugee day, click here. Also be sure to check out Secretary Clinton's statements on World Refugee Day as well as the 30^th anniversary of the U.S. Refugee Act.