A reflection on World Refugee Day

Today, Sunday June 20^th, is World Refugee Day. Designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe, World Refugee Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate the courage of those who have been forced to flee their home countries and to bring awareness to the struggles faced by refugees and migrants globally.

This World Refugee Day, SCIAF is proud to announce that we have raised £76,000 to help provide humanitarian relief for Palestinians affected by the ongoing violence in Gaza. Your generous donations to our Gaza appeal help to fund medical care, psychological support, food and other essential items for the people of Gaza. The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that there are currently 5.7 million Palestinian refugees – more people than the population of Scotland. Our Chief Executive, Alistair Dutton, encourages us all to reflect on what life may be like for those who are currently far from home:  

"On World Refugee Day, please take a moment to imagine how you would feel if you had to flee your homes for your lives, with only the few things you could grab as you fled and nowhere to turn. More than 82 million people in the world have faced this, displaced either in their own countries or are refugees in other countries, including those from Gaza."

Alistair calls on all of us here in Scotland to keep refugees in our hearts and prayers in our World Refugee Day video, and urges us to welcome those who are displaced with open arms.