This year’s World Refugee Day reveals a gloomier picture than ever before

23-06-2023

Sarah Villegas

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

World Refugee Day marks the occasion every year on the 20th of June to celebrate and ‘honour refugees around the world’. [1] In 2023, it takes place in a context of ever-increasing danger and concern for refugees. The British government announced a refugee plan to ‘stop the boats’ [2] while Lebanon, which has the highest number of refugees per capita, started the ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees [3], and the prime minister of Bangladesh said that the country could not support the Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. [4]

The rise of populism, growing anti-refugee sentiment in hosting countries, and the impact of climate change on displaced peoples turns the ‘celebration’ of World Refugee Day into an incongruous party. Celebrating refugees’ cultures, identities, languages and stories is crucial, but today, more than ever, refugees need aid and support.

A couple of days ago, yet another migrant boat off Greece’s southwestern coast sank. With more than 750 migrants on board, this is one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest shipwrecks. Greek authorities’ handling of the disaster raises questions as the Greek Coast Guard was aware of the boat’s distress hours before it sank. [5] According to the International Organization of Migration, more than 27,000 migrants have been missing in the Mediterranean since 2014. [6] Managing migration and refugee flows means elaborating a coordinated strategy that prevents the death of millions of people desperate for a brighter future.

All states are aware of this situation and most are capable of investing in the necessary means to save human lives in the event of catastrophes, nevertheless, they neglect these means when it comes to refugees and migrants. The discrepancy is stark when one compares the great powers’ swift reactions to rescue 5 wealthy people in the Titanic sub this week. The shipwreck was quickly forgotten due to the media over-covering of the search for the Titanic submarine. [7]

Today, more than ever, refugee and migrant flows do not need only more media coverage. Refugees and migrants need substantive solutions, coordinated response, and a collaborative strategy that places human life above political and national interests.

Sources and further readings:

[1] United Nations, ‘World Refugee Day: 20 June’ <World Refugee Day: 20 June> accessed 23 June 2023.

[2] Aljazeera, ‘Forget Nazis, Britain’s cruel refugee plan mimics its own history’ (15 March 2023) <Forget Nazis, Britain’s cruel refugee plan mimics its own history> accessed 23 June 2023.

[3] Aljazeera, ‘Lebanon begins ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees’ (26 October 2022) <Lebanon begings ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees> accessed 23 June 2023.

[4] Human Rights Watch, ‘Bangladesh: New Risks for Rohingya Refugees’ (18 May 2023) <Bangladesh: New Risks for Rohingya> accessed 23 June 2023

[5] News.com.au, ‘Story behind packed migrant boat exposes ugly truth in missing sub crisis’ (22 June 2023) <Story behind packed migrant boat exposes ugly truth in missing sub crisis> accessed 23 June 2023.

[6] International Maritime Organization. ’27,565 Missing Migrants Recorded in Mediterranean’ (23 June 2023) <27,565 Missing Migrants Recorded in Mediterranean> accessed 23 June 2023.

[7] Huffington Post, ‘Missing Titanic Submersible Is Not The Only At-Sea Crisis We Should Be Talking About Right Now’ (20 June 2023) <Missing Titanic Submersible Is Not The Only At-Sea Crisis We Should Be Talking About Right Now> accessed 23 June 2023.
Frontex, ‘Frontex statement following tragic shipwreck off Pylos’ (16 June 2023) <Frontex statement following tragic shipwreck off Pylos> accessed 23 June 2023.