UNITED
NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES
(UNHCR)
The mandate of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is to provide international protection to refugees and to seek durable solutions to refugee problems. UNHCR’s involvement in Bangladesh began in the aftermath of the 1971 liberation war, when assistance was provided to millions refugees fleeing (the then) East Pakistan to India to escape the ravages of war.
The more recent UNHCR programmes in Bangladesh include the voluntary repatriation of Muslim refugees from Rakhine state, Myanmar. More than 250,000 refugees from Myanmar sought refuge in Bangladesh beginning in late 1991, and were accommodated in 20 camps in the districts of Cox’s Bazaar and Banbarban. Since then 230,000 of them have returned to their country of origin leaving behind 21,000 refugees, who now reside in two camps. UNHCR’s goal is to draw this operation to a successful close by finding a durable solution for the remaining refugees who, for various reasons, are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin.
In addition, through an arrangement with a local NGO, UNHCR provides assistance to around 150 urban refugees, primarily Somali and Myanmarese nationals living in Dhaka. UNHCR also promotes sensitization of the public of refugee laws and other refugee issues through the provision of courses and lecturers for Government officials, members of the Bangladesh Council, human rights groups and NGOs.
Although UNHCR is not directly involved with the Biharis (stranded Pakistanis living in Bangladesh since the liberation war) or the ongoing repatriation of the Chakmas from India to their home in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, it continues to monitor both situations.
What is a Refugee?
Imagine this: You’ve lived your whole life in peace, surrounded by friends and family. Then, without warning, everything changes. Lifelong neighbors suddenly hate you. Your home is destroyed.
Dodging bombs and bullets, you flee, taking nothing with you but your life. Then, if you’re lucky, you find yourself in a foreign land, alone, bewildered, but safe. You are a refugee.
International law defines refugees as...
"People who are unable or unwilling to return to their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or belonging to a particular social group."
What international law does not describe is the sheer courage and hope that characterize most refugees, wherever they are. 80% of the world’s refugees are women and children. On World Refugee Day in particular, we celebrate the tenacity and quiet strength of the millions of mothers and wives who hold their families together in the most difficult circumstances. They are true heroes, and they deserve our respect.
Why a World Refugee Day?
Just as we make a special effort to remember our mothers on Mother’s Day, we want the world’s refugees to be remembered on their special day. For years, many countries and regions have been holding Refugee Days and even Weeks. On of the most widespread is Africa Refugee Day, which is celebrated on 20th June in several countries.
As an expression of solidarity with Africa, which hosts the most refugees, and which traditionally has shown them great generosity, a special UN General Assembly Resolution was unanimously adopted in 2000 which designated 20th June every year as World Refugee Day.
For more information, visit the UNHCR website at: http://www.unhcr.ch