Refugees are individuals with real needs and on 20 June, UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted and honoured the millions of forcibly uprooted people
who lack the essentials of life - clean water, food, sanitation, shelter, health care and protection from violence and abuse, through a number of events all over the world.
The theme for this year's World Refugee Day was "Real People, Real Needs" with a focus on showing that the millions of people forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution and natural disasters, all have a story to tell; they are real people and they have real needs.
In the lead up to the day, the agency launched a news website based on a clear message framework - telling the human story, showing the impact of the work and setting the agenda on refugee matters. The site will integrate also social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube into one platform, boosting UNHCR's conversation with online communities globally.
Report shows 42 million uprooted people in 2008
On 16 June UNHCR presented its report "2008 Global Trends" - an annual compilation of statistics on the number of refugees, internally displaced people, stateless people and others of concern to the agency.
The report shows the number of people forcibly uprooted by conflict and persecution worldwide stood at 42 million at the end of last year amid a sharp slowdown in repatriation and more prolonged conflicts resulting in protracted displacement. The total includes 16 million refugees and asylum seekers and 26 million people uprooted within their own countries. Although the overall total of 42 million uprooted people at year's end represents a drop of about 700,000 over the previous year, new displacement in 2009 - not reflected in the annual report - has already more than offset the decline.
About 2 million refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) were able to return home in 2008, according to the UNHCR report, a decline from the previous year. It was the second-lowest repatriation total in 15 years and, in part, reflects the deteriorating security conditions in countries such as Afghanistan and Sudan.
WRF celebrated around the world
World Refugee Day on 20 June was marked through numerous events all over the world, highlighting the theme through light shows, film screenings, photography exhibitions, lectures, panel discussions, food bazaars, fashion shows, cultural performances, concerts and sports contests.
UNHCR's headquarters in Geneva lighted the 140-metre-high Jet d'Eau - one of the world's largest fountains - in UN blue. In France, a WRD conference on asylum in Europe was held at the Goethe Institute in Paris and in Monte Carlo, where Monaco's Princess Stephanie presented a cheque to UNHCR for its operations.
UNHCR's Cyprus office opened a traveling photo exhibition in Nicosia which will move to Limassol, Pafos and Larnaca where it will close in September. In London's St Martin-in-the-Fields church, UNHCR and New Exposure opened an exhibition of photographs taken by Iraqi refugee children in Syria.
Find out more about UNHCR
The UNHCR Photo gallery presents stories from Afghanistan, DRC, Darfur and Chad.
Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie's 2009 World Refugee Day message
This World Refugee Day, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie reminds us to take the time to remember refugees on this day and to respect refugees' struggle.
Gimme Shelter:
Actor-director Ben Affleck and Sir Mick Jagger have launched a short film for UNHCR's Gimme Shelter campaign to help raise funds and awareness about the work of the UN refugee agency. In November 2008, Affleck filmed in eastern DRC where the conflict has forced more than 800,000 people to flee their homes. The result is a short film entitled 'Gimme Shelter', set to the classic Rolling Stones' song of the same name.
The proceeds of the Gimme Shelter campaign will help to pay for clean water supplies and emergency humanitarian assistance kits in the region.
Pakistan:
Video of UNHCR's work in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. An estimated 2 million Pakistanis have fled their homes in the north-west. UNHCR has launched an 
emergency aid operation to help the displaced.
Follow UNHCR on pages such as:
Youtube
Facebook: Join the Gimme Shelter Campaign
Twitter
Flickr
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