One in every 69 people on Earth have been forced to flee.
Whether they are escaping persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or natural disasters, no one wants to leave their home, livelihoods and everything behind. Desperate conditions beyond their control make people refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons or stateless individuals.
Women and girls, in particular, face specific challenges when on the move, including sexual violence, exploitation and abuse. Overcrowded refugee camps and makeshift settlements also expose them to heightened risks.
This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees and on creating a world where they are welcomed – at a time when they need the world’s support more than ever. Communities welcoming refugees need to include them in their networks, identify opportunities for them to work and thrive, celebrate their strengths, and acknowledge their challenges.
Solidarity also means finding solutions: governments creating opportunities and providing resources for refugees, and ending conflicts so people can return home safely.
No person should lose the right to health and safety when they lose everything else.
To support refugee and displaced women and girls, UNFPA provides reproductive health services, including maternal health and emergency obstetric care, through static clinics and mobile health teams, and ensures that health facilities are better equipped to deliver care by deploying trained staff and life-saving supplies. Safe spaces are also established in refugee camps to ensure that comprehensive services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence remain accessible to women and girls. Basic items that enable women to manage their hygiene and menstruation are also distributed.
You can learn more about how to get involved and show solidarity with refugees here.
