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On World Refugee Day: A Story of Pain, Dignity… and a Timeless Human Responsibility

Every year, on June 20, the world pauses to remember what must never be forgotten:

Millions of people who were forced to leave their homes, their lands, and their memories — fleeing war, hunger, or fear.

Today marks the 24th anniversary of World Refugee Day, officially declared by the United Nations in 2001 to be a global voice for those who have been forcibly displaced.

But did you know? Refuge is not a new phenomenon.

For thousands of years, people have fled injustice and sought shelter in temples or under the protection of kings.

In early Islamic history, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad — peace be upon him — sought refuge in Abyssinia with the Christian king al-Najashi, in one of the earliest and noblest examples of religious asylum.

As the modern world progressed, refugee rights were codified, beginning with the 1951 Geneva Convention, followed by the 1967 Protocol, and the establishment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Today’s reality: Numbers that shake the heart

More than 120 million displaced people and refugees worldwide — a figure greater than the population of many countries.

Conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, Sudan, Palestine, Myanmar, and elsewhere have overwhelmed the world with silent cries for safety and dignity.

So what should we do? Watch in silence? Or address the roots?

Work to end wars through diplomacy and political pressure.
Prevent economic collapse in Global South countries.
Combat climate change, a hidden driver of displacement.
Hold wealthy nations accountable morally and humanely.
Differentiate in public discourse between voluntary migration and forced displacement — out of respect for truth.

Do refugees have rights? Yes — and we have responsibilities too:

The right not to be returned to danger (non-refoulement principle).
Access to healthcare and education.
The right to live in dignity, not as criminals or threats.

But the bitter truth is that many refugees are denied even basic rights, exploited politically, and forgotten behind fences and borders.

**On this 24th anniversary… let us not ask for sympathy, but awareness.

Not for tears, but for action.**

A refugee is not a number in a report, but a human being who once had a home — and now a tent.

Once had a homeland — and now only waiting.

Once had a dream — and now just a file.

Let us be a voice for dignity, a stand against injustice, a seed of hope in the desert of fear.

Written by:

Dr. Abdulsamad Mukhlif