Live Blog: World Refugee Day events marked across Africa as displacement rises

From East to Central Africa, UNHCR is leading in celebrating the resilience of the millions of men, women and children forced to flee their homes.

A South Sudanese businesswoman poses with a UNHCR staffer in Kinshasa, DRC, where refugees set up a market displaying handmade clothes, jewelry, art and food.
© UNHCR/Andreas Kirchhof

By UNHCR Staff  |  20 June 2018

Music, dance, art, sports, discourse - these are some of the activities that people across Africa are engaging in to mark World Refugee Day. Today,  we celebrate the sheer courage and resilience of millions of men, women and children who have been uprooted from their homes due to conflict and persecution.

The event, which falls each year on June 20, salutes the courage and endurance of those who have been forced to flee. Many are also showing they stand #WithRefugees by signing UNHCR’s petition. Check back here throughout the day for updates from Africa and from around the world.

Nakivale, Uganda

Uganda hosts over 1 million refugees, mostly from South Sudan. In Nakivale settlement, a special celebration was held to mark 60 years of hosting refugees. To commemorate the event, there were various activities ranging from fashion show, cultural dances to marathons.

  • South Sudanese cultural dance at the World Refugee Day national celebration in Uganda.
    South Sudanese cultural dance at the World Refugee Day national celebration in Uganda.  © UNHCR/Eunice Ohanusi
  • Refugee models showcase traditional attires from the different refugee nationalities in Uganda at the World Refugee Day national celebrations.
    Refugee models showcase traditional attires from the different refugee nationalities in Uganda at the World Refugee Day national celebrations.  © UNHCR/Eunice Ohanusi
  • Gambella cultural dance at the World Refugee Day national celebrations in Uganda.
    Gambella cultural dance at the World Refugee Day national celebrations in Uganda. © UNHCR/Eunice Ohanusi

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The refugee community in Tanzania's capital came out in droves to commemorate the day with song, music and dance.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Refugee artists and local artists came together to showcase their art work, portraits and other creative items at a photo exhibition. Ethiopia, which hosts over 915,000 refugees, has set a fine example in the region by implementing progressive policies that allow refugees to access services, resources and opportunities alongside Ethiopians.

  • A photo exhibition by refugees and other artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was organized to showcase art work and portraits.
    A photo exhibition by refugees and other artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was organized to showcase art work and portraits. © UNHCR/Diana Diaz
  • A photo exhibition by refugees and other artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was organized to showcase art work and portraits.
    A photo exhibition by refugees and other artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was organized to showcase art work and portraits. © UNHCR/Diana Diaz
  • Refugees set up a photo exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, showcasing their art work and other creative items to commemorate World Refugee Day.
    Refugees set up a photo exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, showcasing their art work and other creative items to commemorate World Refugee Day. © UNHCR/Diana Diaz
  • A photo exhibition by refugees and other artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was organized to showcase art work and portraits.
    A photo exhibition by refugees and other artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was organized to showcase art work and portraits. © UNHCR/Diana Diaz

Nairobi, Kenya

At an event to commemorate the day, the Special Envoy to the Somali situation took time to highlight the significance of the world's first ever TEDx event in a refugee camp.TEDxKakumaCamp, which occured almost two weeks ago, illustrated how refugees can maximise their potential and contribute to local communities, given the opportunity to do so.

Kakuma, Kenya

The power of music to bring diverse communities together is the choice of celebration for refugees and their hosts in Kakuma camp, home to over 185,000 refugees.

Jijiga, Ethiopia

In Jijiga, refugees have come together to commemorate the event, with lavish displays of jewelry, gifts, food and fabric.

 

Nakivale, Uganda

In Nakivale refugee settlement, UNHCR is joining hands with refugees and their hosts to celebrate a historical milestone - 60 years of hosting refugees.

Dadaab, Kenya

In Dadaab refugee camp, football and a market day kicked off the World refugee day celebrations. Dadaab is home to over 250,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, preparations are underway for a photo exhibition showcasing how refugees and their hosts are living side by side and thriving together.

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

UNHCR supported refugee entrepreneurs to set up a market in downtown Kinshasa, where they sold handmade clothes, jewelery, art and food to clients. The market was organised to help refugee entrepreneurs find new customers and to sensitize the public on the refugee situation in the region.

  • Refugee entrepreneurs set up a market in downtown Kinshasa, DRC where they sold handmade clothes, jewelry, art and food.
    Refugee entrepreneurs set up a market in downtown Kinshasa, DRC where they sold handmade clothes, jewelry, art and food.  © UNHCR/Andreas Kirchhof
  • Refugee entrepreneurs set up a market in downtown Kinshasa, DRC where they sold handmade clothes, jewelry, art and food.
    Refugee entrepreneurs set up a market in downtown Kinshasa, DRC where they sold handmade clothes, jewelry, art and food.  © UNHCR/Andreas Kirchhof

Nairobi, Kenya

In Nairobi, development and private sector agencies held discussions on the importance of including and empowering refugees in Kenya. There are nearly 470,000 refugees in Kenya, majority from Somalia and South Sudan.