20 June is World Refugee Day.  According to a UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Survey, there were 11.4 million refugees and 26 million others displaced internally by conflict or persecution at the end of 2007.

The World Refugee Day events this year will focus on the fundamental need for protection.  This includes economic security, freedom from violence, providing support, food and shelter to forcibly displaced people.  Another important aspect of protection is about raising awareness.  World Refugee Day provides an opportunity to make a global call to action and highlight the need for everyone to support refugees.

Supporting World Refugee Day in South Africa is particularly relevant this year after the recent xenophobic violence.  There has been a tremendous amount of support for refugee initiatives but the situation is not fleeting and refugees need constant support and protection.  According to a UNHCR Report South Africa had over 251 000 individual asylum applications between 2002 and 2007.  In 2007 they had the second highest number of asylum claims in the World (after the United States).

If you are in Johannesburg on 20 June there is a Commemoration of World Refugee Day Event organised by the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO).  Let us know of any other events taking place or any other ways in which South Africans can make a positive contribution to World Refugee Day.