Today is World Refugee Day, a day set aside to recognize the bravery, resilience, and contributions of millions of individuals around the world who have been forced to escape their homes due to violence, war, or persecution.
It is a day to remember that with the assistance of hosting communities and neighbors, people may rebuild their lives and networks, and even prosper.
The topic for this year is “Everyone is entitled to seek asylum. They are whoever they are. Whatever their origins are. Whenever they require it.”
World Refugee Day was observed in Zimbabwe at the Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland Province. The event was arranged in the camp with refugees and asylum seekers by UNHCR in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare and other partners.
They recalled the significance of welcoming newcomers into their communities. Those forced to flee bring their cultures, unique experiences, and hope, all of which strengthen and revitalize any society.
The refugee camp celebrations comprised a variety of entertainment activities organized by refugees and asylum seekers, ranging from traditional dance groups performing to refugee youngsters reading poems and singing the national song.
All occupants of the refugee camp received food hampers including basic essentials for an average family from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Professor Paul Mavima, said, “the Government is alive to its international obligation to receive and protect refugees and asylum seekers.
“The need to empower persons of concern in terms of livelihoods need not be over emphasized. The Government of Zimbabwe will continue to avail arable land for the expansion of the irrigation scheme in Tongogara to benefit refugees and the host community to ensure peaceful co-existence.”
The attendees at the celebration in Tongogara visited some projects in the camp supporting refugees and the host community’s self-reliance, namely the irrigation scheme, the hydroponics project, the new school building for children with disabilities, and an organization led by young refugees dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship among youths.
The UNHCR Representative in Zimbabwe, Abdoulaye Barry, stated that “it is our collective responsibility to ensure that people have access to refuge.
“But our responsibility does not end there. Once they are out of harm’s way, people who have been forced to leave their homes and almost everything else behind need a chance to rebuild.”
During the ceremonies, UNHCR and UNDP dedicated new solar panels installed in UNHCR’s field office in Tongogara Refugee Camp, with the assistance of UNDP’s Information & Technology Management’s Green Energy Team (GET) (ITM).
The primary motivation for UNHCR to build a solar PV panel solution is to meet vital load while lowering CO2 emissions and fostering sustainable development in the country.
This clean energy solution does not require generator fuel, covers 99 percent of the important loads of UNHCR, government, and partner offices at Tongogara Refugee Camp, and saves an estimated 8.530 kg of CO2.
Mia Seppo, UNDP Resident Representative in Zimbabwe, who attended the opening and festivities in the refugee camp, stated that “This smart facility in with UNHCR shows UNDP’s commitment to greening its operations.
We recognize that while we partner with the Government on environmental policy and sustainability projects, we also need to walk the talk”.
Zimbabwe’s government has taken in approximately 22,600 migrants and asylum seekers. The majority of them are housed at Tongogara Refugee Camp.
Approximately 74% of refugees and asylum seekers recorded by UNHCR are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 11% from Mozambique, 6% from Burundi, 5% from Rwanda, and 4% from other countries.
Globally, the number of individuals compelled to leave conflict, violence, human rights violations, and persecution has already surpassed 100 million for the first time in history, fueled by the war in Ukraine and other terrible conflicts.
Furthermore, there has been a resurgence of violence in countries where lengthy conflicts have been ongoing, such as Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The UNHCR’s mandate is to protect the rights and well-being of those compelled to flee. We work with partners and communities to guarantee that everyone has the right to seek asylum and safe haven in another nation. We also work hard to find long-term solutions.