“1 Family Torn Apart by War is Too Many”
AHA Namibia Country Office in collaboration with UNHCR and the Government of Namibia commemorated the World Refugee Day for 2014 along with close to one thousand five hundred people in Osire Refugee Settlement in Namibia on June 20, 2014. The commemoration honored the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threats of persecution, conflict and violence.
The commemoration of World Refugee Day was designated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to bring attention to the plight of more than 50 million reported refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people worldwide. World Refugee Day is a special day when the world takes time to recognize the resilience of forcibly displaced people throughout the world. The theme of the World Refugee Day for 2014 was “1 family torn apart by war is too many” which honors the spirit and courage of millions of persons of concern.
The event included a fashion show, where persons of concern were dressed by local refugee designers. The Council of Churches Osire Choir and Osire School Choir also performed on the occasion cementing the spirit of togetherness through various songs. The attendees were also greatly entertained by the Tswana and Ovahimba cultural
groups which performed shows from the Great Lakes region of Africa.
The entertainment also included a performance by DRC Musical Band known as 4×4 Too Much Power and a Namibian entertainer, TUNAKIE who both contributed to the success of the event.
The AHA Country Representative Ms. Aynalem T/Giorgis saluted the cooperation and contribution of persons of concern, Osire Refugee Community Committee and the host community for making the event a huge success. She also thanked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) and Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA) staff who “dedicated their time and energy in order to make the lives of forcefully displaced people living in the camp a little brighter”. In addition, the event was a success thanks to the commitment and dedication of the World Refugee Day Organizing Committee.
Part of AHA’s work in Namibia in partnership with UNHCR and the Government of Namibia is finding long term solutions for people who are forcibly displaced. Where possible, this is through voluntary return, but other possibilities include local integration or resettlement in third countries.