As one of the UN’s humanitarian agencies, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), under the leadership of António Guterres from Portugal, helps about 19 million refugees, displaced persons, asylum seekers, returnees and stateless people around the world. This year UNHCR asks us to “remember the millions of refugees under [UNHCR’s] care who are trying to pick up the pieces of once-peaceful lives. As different as they are from each other, one thing connects them all: hope for a better future and a chance to restore lasting peace to their lives.”

The theme of World Refugee Day 2006 is Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive. On the UNHCR web site for this commemoration you can find an informative World Refugee Day 2006 Leaflet and a poster. If you type in your country under ‘World Refugee Day Events 2006’, you will find a listing of activities planned in your country to commemorate the day.

The UN highlights the plight of refugees and asylum seekers on its 2006 listing of the "10 Stories the world should hear more about"

More information about refugee situations around the world can be found at:
•    www.unhcr.org -- UNHCR (home page)
•    www.jrs.net -- Jesuit Refugee Service    
•    www.refugeesinternational.org -- Refugees International
•    www.hrw.org -- Refugee page of Human Rights Watch