The United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR on Tuesday launched its annual World Refugee Day Campaign with the release of several films, featuring celebrity supporters that tell the human side of the refugee plight.
A statement issued by Ms Patience Folley, the Assistant Public Information Officer of UNHCR and copied to the Ghana News Agency said, this year’s campaign aims to bring the public closer to the story, showing refugees as ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances.
It said the films feature UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and best-selling author, Khaled Hosseini, photographer and supermodel Helena Christensen, singer/songwriter Maher Zain and actor Jung Woo-Sun.
It noted that the films were recorded during recent field visits with each supporter introducing an individual refugee and their story.
According to the statement, these films and other refugee stories could be found on UNHCR’s Campaign website: www.refugeeday.org.
The statement said in addition to these new films from the field, author Neil Gaiman, actor David Morrissey and actress Emma Thompson will share personal stories of refugees they have met or are in their own families.
It observed that on World Refugee Day, 20 June, other UNHCR supporters including actor, model and refugee, Ger Duany, and actresses Kristin Davis and Kat Graham, would be spending time with refugees and displaced families.
It said this high profile support is part of a worldwide public outreach campaign for World Refugee Day 2015.
“UNHCR offices in some 120 countries are planning various events including the film premiere of Salam Neighbor in Washington D.C.
“In Ghana, the commemoration will be on June 18, 2015 at the Egyeikrom Refugee Camp in the Central Region, with an open durbar and an exhibition by the refugees,” it said.
It said other activities lined up, include the launch of a refugee talent festival, football matches between the refugee community and the host communities where the refugee camps are located, clean up and tree planting exercises in the camps as well as an art contest for children.
The statement said UNHCR would mark World Refugee Day 2015 against a backdrop of multiple conflicts, growing numbers of forcibly displaced people and a rising tide of intolerance and xenophobia in many parts of the world.
On World Refugee Day, June 20, UNHCR commemorates the strength and resilience of the more than 50 million people around the world forced to flee their homes due to war or human rights abuses.
Ordinary people living through extraordinary times: In 2015 our World Refugee Day Campaign aims to bring our audiences closer to the human side of the refugee story, by sharing stories of hope and resilience from displaced people.
Source: GNA
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