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So
often the world sits idly by, watching ethnic
conflicts flare up, as if these were mere entertainment
rather than human beings whose lives are being
destroyed. Shouldn't the existence of even one
single refugee be a cause for alarm throughout
the world?
-- Urkhan Alakbarov
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"I
urge you to celebrate the extraordinary
courage
and contributions of refugees past and
present."
- Kofi Annan,
UN
Secretary-General
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The
challenge of ending displacement is inseparable
from the challenge of establishing and maintaining
peace. When wars end, farmers return to their
fields; children return to school; violence
against women declines; trade and economic activity
resume; medical and other services become more
accessible, and the international focus changes
from relief to development and self-sufficiency.
All this makes new wars less likely. It is a
virtuous cycle that deserves nurture and support.
-- Kenneth H. Bacon
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"Displaced
societies are of value. Their issues are
our issues."
-- Cynthia
Basinet
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"At
(UNHCR's) headquarters, I met extraordinary
people, men and women, especially from
the emergency team, who shared with me
their passion, their dedication and their
commitment to this organisation and refugees.
They told me about the daily difficulties
they have to face and also the joy they
felt when they managed to save a person
whose life was threatened."
-
Julien Clerc
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"Despite
very harsh living conditions and the trauma
of what they went through, they [Sudanese
refugees] had a lot of dignity"
- Julien
Clerc
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"Environmental
degradation, overpopulation, refugees, narcotics,
terrorism, world crime movements, and organized
crime are worldwide problems that don't stop
at a nation's borders."
-- Warren Christopher
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While
every refugee's story is different and
their anguish personal, they all share
a common thread of uncommon courage –
the courage not only to survive, but to
persevere and rebuild their shattered
lives. ~
Antonio
Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees
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"...in
the midst of migrants in search of a better
life there are people in need of protection:
refugees and asylum-seekers, women and
children victims of trafficking...Many
move simply to avoid dying of hunger.
When leaving is not an option but a necessity,
this is more than poverty."
~
Antonio
Guterres
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"When
food becomes
scarce, refugees often turn to desperate measures
to feed themselves and their families. We are
particularly worried about the health of the
refugee population, domestic violence and refugees
resorting to illegal employment or even to prostitution,
just to put enough food on the table."
~ Antonio Guterres,
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
Thus,
on this World Refugee Day, let us take time
to recognize and draw inspiration from these
ordinary people who have shown such extraordinary
courage – the world's millions of refugees and
displaced.~
Antonio Guterres,
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
There
are many challenges facing the international community
today but few, in my mind, are more pressing than
those of finding humanitarian solutions to refugee
problems. We talk of regional conflicts, of economic
and social crises, of political instability, of
abuses of human rights, of racism, religious intolerance,
inequalities between rich and poor, hunger, over-population,
under-development and. I could go on and on. Each
and every one of these impediments to humanity’s
pursuit of well-being are also among the root
causes of refugee problems.
-- Poul Hartling,
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 1978-1985
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A
lasting solution, the possibility to begin
a new life, is the only dignified solution
for the refugee himself.
-- Poul
Hartling, UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, 1978-1985
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“They
are safe but they are not in their homes.
They are city-less. I think it's just a
disaster for everyone."
-- Teri
Hatcher |
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Refugee
Day - June 20
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PRINT
OUT
SET OF
REFUGEE QUOTES
HANDOUTS
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Portraits
for illustration purposes - no endorsement implied.
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