The headlines surrounding refugees over the last year have been increasingly bleak. The war in Sudan, now in its third year, continues to rage. It has led to the largest displacement crisis in the world, with over 4 million people seeking safety in neighbouring countries. The conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has sent more than 140,000 people fleeing across borders since the start of this year. And as violence flares up in South Sudan, thousands more are threatened with exile. At the same time the region faces a humanitarian funding crisis not experienced in recent memory. International support – once assumed – is now uncertain. Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and several other countries that have long kept their doors open to refugees - are left wondering if they have been left to shoulder the responsibility alone. The foundation of international responsibility is fraying. You might think this is no time to mark World Refugee Day; that there’s nothing to commemorate. But I would argue now is exactly the time to commemorate. To honour the daily act of enduring, with dignity, when there is no other choice. To stand in solidarity with refugees, and the communities and countries that host them. There are 5.7 million refugees in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes. They arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and yet they bring everything: skills, hopes and dreams, resolve. When given the chance – safety and security, a place to sleep, a document to show who they are, the right to work or study – they begin again. Refugees and others forcibly displaced don’t just rebuild their own lives; they enrich the communities that welcome them. Markets grow, classrooms diversify, services expand. Evidence shows that refugees who are included become neighbours, coworkers, caregivers, employers – people who give back, often many times over. This is solidarity. And it matters now more than ever - precisely because the world seems to be retreating from finding solutions for what feels like an intractable problem. With more than 123 million forcibly displaced in the world, 1 out of 67 people globally, 1 out 18 in the region, forced displacement is no longer an emergency. It is the status quo. Yet, despite the many challenges they face, countries in this region continue to demonstrate great generosity by welcoming refugees. For example, the Republic of Rwanda has generously hosted refugees for decades, investing heavily in policies and practices that include them in national systems alongside Rwandans. Unfortunately, this global example of refugee inclusion is currently not receiving sufficient international support. Refugees now face dramatic cuts to basic aid like food rations and protection services. Whatever the price of successful inclusion, there should be no doubt that the cost of its failure is much higher. We can and should show more solidarity to these families and the communities that host them. Across the region, including in Rwanda, we see commitments from development partners such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the European Union who are providing increased support towards medium and longer-term solutions from the start of emergencies. This replaces the old model of separate costly refugee camps and helps build stronger, more connected communities. Private-sector partnerships are growing as well, such as with the Mastercard Foundation, which recently announced significant investments in refugee-hosting areas in areas of education and livelihoods, focused on building better futures for young people. The best solution to displacement remains peace – the chance to return home. But peace is elusive, and for most, that hope is out of reach. In places like South Sudan, we strive to help refugees who have made the difficult choice to go home on their own. In Burundi, we have been able to facilitate voluntary returns. Elsewhere in the region, however, going home largely remains a dream postponed by conflict and uncertainty. Showing solidarity for refugees by ensuring they have access to life-saving assistance, opportunities for self-reliance, and a pathway to solutions is crucial to the security and stability of the region, and beyond. We must continue to invest in resilience, in coexistence, in the long road towards solutions. This region has a long, proud tradition of standing by our African brothers and sisters who have been forced to flee – a tradition that I hold with great pride. Here, solidarity is more than a sentimental slogan; it is a responsibility carried out with pronounced commitment. So, this World Refugee Day let’s be clear: Solidarity with refugees is not just compassion. It is the thread that holds us all together. The writer is the UNHCR Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.
