PRESS RELEASE

UNHCR Philippines
26 Ilang-Ilang Street cor.
Rosales Street, Rosary Heights
9600 Cotabato City
Philippines
www.unhcr.ph

CONTACT PERSONS:

Peter Deck 09173056281 | deck@unhcr.org (Cotabato)

Keneath John Bolisay 09155921568 | bolisay@unhcr.org (Cotabato)

EMBARGOED - NOT FOR USE BEFORE 00:00, 19 JUNE 2015

UNHCR, partners mark World Refugee Day in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines, 19 June (UNHCR) The Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Mindanao and its partners are joining
offices in some 120 countries in marking World Refugee Day, a day dedicated to raising
awareness of the situation of the growing numbers of forcibly displaced persons
throughout the world.
This years theme, Refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced persons
(IDPs) are ordinary people living through extraordinary times, describes these displaced
populations as people like you and me. They might be teachers, farmers, religious
leaders, students, community organizers, day care workers, music lovers, etc.
IDPs had a life, an identity, a family and a future before they were forced to flee from
their homes. Their identity is defined by their previous lives - not by their current situation
that prevents them from returning to their communities. They have not lost their identity,
their skills or their passions. They just long to return home and resume a normal life
without fear, said Peter Deck, UNHCRs head of office in Mindanao.
Although the Mindanao region has experienced a reduction in conflict, still each year
over 70,000 persons have experienced fear from conflict in their communities and were
forced to flee from their homes according to the Protection Cluster, a group of United
Nations agencies, inter-governmental organizations and international and local nongovernmental organizations who monitor these displacements.
Since 2012, a total of 4.6 million persons fled from their homes due to armed conflict and
natural disasters in Mindanao and as of May this year, at least 236,541 persons are still
in need of a durable solution to their displacement situation. The Philippine government
continues to confront serious IDP protection challenges from past and present
displacements.
Behind these statistics are ordinary people with stories, dreams and desires for a life
without fear. We must not forget that these are mothers and fathers, daughters and sons
whose basic right to life must be respected. People who led ordinary lives before a
conflict forced them to flee. On this World Refugee Day, we are advocating that
authorities take on their responsibility to promote human rights and peace in Mindanao
to prevent displacement, said Deck.
As conflicts are forcing record numbers of people to flee with a devastating impact on
families, the UN refugee agency is enjoining everyone to read, listen, and share stories
of the displaced which they can find via the agencys campaign microsite
www.refugeeday.org, or its Philippines website www.unhcr.ph.

World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations to honor the courage,
strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their
homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. It is commemorated each year
on June 20. END