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UNHCR Representative in China on First World Refugee Day
"In the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), every day we see the hope, courage and resilience of refugees despite all odds. If they refuse to give up, how can we?" said Colin G. Mitchell, a representative of the UNHCR in China.
Mitchell made the comments in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the eve of the UN General Assembly declaring June 20 as the first "World Refugee Day."
He said the significance of designating the world refugee day is considerable in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
"Today, the world is freer and better than 50 years ago, but globalization and prosperity contributes to some disillusionment due to the vicious cycle of war and suffering that still produces millions of refugees. We see more and more examples of xenophobia and compassion fatigue as ordinary people sense a certain hopelessness, which can become cynicism," he said.
Hopefully, the Refugee Day will allow people to avoid cynicism, to recognize that refugees are the result of the problems between states and within states, said the representative.
"They are not the problem; they are the victims," he stressed.
According Mitchell, there are presently some 21 million refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR in the world today, among whom 44 percent are in Asia, 29 percent in Africa and 20 percent in Europe.
No country is immune to the global refugee problem, but it is still the poorest nations that host the most refugees and which bear a burden disproportionate to their means, he said.
When asked about the difficulties of UNHCR's work, Mitchell listed some, which range from obtaining access to refugees often in unsafe and hostile war zones, to harnessing the international support required to provide them with protection and humanitarian assistance, and to safeguard the safety of the humanitarian workers.
"Five UNHCR staff have lost their lives in less than 12 months in this endeavor," he said.
Still, the biggest challenge is how to prevent refugee situations from arising by tackling the root causes of the refugee crisis, and in finding a durable solution for them, he added.
"Humanitarian assistance cannot be a substitute for the political will required to resolve problems," he stressed. "More international solidarity and conviction to address the root causes is required."
Addressing the main objectives of UNHCR in the years to come, he said UNHCR will work as effectively and efficiently as possible to ensure the protection of refugees, and to provide them with permanent solutions.
Regarding cooperation between UNHCR and China, a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Mitchell said UNHCR has been in partnership with China for over 20 years.
"China has set a good example for many countries in this respect," he said.
Speaking of what an ordinary person can do for refugees, he said as individuals people should not lose hope in their ability to influence change.
"Seemingly isolated personal acts can multiply to achieve change," he concluded.
World Refugee Day
June 20 2001 will mark the first ever universal Refugee Day. Countries across the globe will celebrate this day as World Refugee Day. Many countries have previously celebrated a refugee day, but this year marks the first internationally celebrated day.
"Refugees not only have the strongest moral claim to our assistance; experience shows that economically and culturally, they generate more wealth than they consume." ------ Kofi Annan
"There is no greater sorrow on earth than the loss of one's native land." ------Euripides, 431 B.C. |
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