News

The World Refugee Day 2017 in Almaty

ALMATY, Kazakhstan. June 19, 2017 (UNHCR) - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its Partner, the Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society (KRCS), in cooperation with the Almaty Zoo organized a visit to the Almaty Zoo for refugee children.

On June 20, the world honours the resilience and courage of more than 65 million displaced worldwide, as well as kindness and openness of communities welcoming them. In Kazakhstan, UNHCR and partners commemorate this day with 653 refugees originating from Afghanistan, Syria, Ethiopia and some other countries, who had no choice but to flee civil war and oppression.

Children were happy to spend a warm summer day interacting together and learning about animals, birds and reptiles. Their excitement and laughter made their parents forget about their various struggles as refugees for a while. In the evening, refugee families gathered for Iftar dinner where they could share the meal and spend joyful time together after the fasting day. Similar events will be organized in Shymkent city.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in his statement for the World Refugee Day 2017, has mentioned that refugees are forced to leave their homes, work, carriers, and families. Refugees leave everything behind, except their hopes and dreams to reach their goals, to support their families, to contribute to receiving communities, to bring solutions, not problems. The key condition to solutions, in the High Commissioner’s words, is openness of our minds and hearts in welcoming refugees with respect who are keen to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

UNHCR expresses its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for hosting hundreds of people who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety and dignity. UNHCR thanks its Partners for their tireless efforts to improve the lives of refugees and the Almaty and Shymkent Zoos for standing together #WithRefugees!