As the world marks World Refugee Day on June 20, we are reminded that behind every refugee statistic is a human story of courage, loss, resilience and hope. This year’s theme, ‘Until everyone is safe’, is both a reminder and a call to action. It reflects the reality that millions of people around the world continue to be forced from their homes by conflict, violence and persecution in search of safety. Uganda hosts more than two million refugees and asylum-seekers, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. Behind this statistic are individual stories of courage, loss, resilience and hope.
Every day, people continue to seek refuge from conflict, violence and persecution. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), insecurity and violence in the eastern part of the country continue to uproot families. Many have undertaken long and dangerous journeys, facing numerous hardships along the way, including the fear of disease outbreaks before finally reaching safety in Uganda.
To the north, South Sudan continues to experience political uncertainty, localised violence and climate-related shocks. Thousands of people have crossed into Uganda in search of protection and stability for themselves and their children. Further afield, the conflict in Sudan has now entered its fourth year. What began as a political and military crisis has evolved into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. Millions displaced, families separated, and countless lives disrupted. Uganda has received many of those fleeing the violence, adding to the growing humanitarian needs across the country.
Each of these people matters. They are not numbers in a report or statistics in a news headline. They are mothers, fathers, children, students, teachers, farmers and entrepreneurs whose lives have been upended by circumstances beyond their control. Like all of us, they seek safety, dignity and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Seventy-five years ago, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the international community adopted the 1951 Refugee Convention, establishing the right of people forced to flee to seek safety and protection. In doing so, it made a promise that those escaping conflict, violence and persecution would not be left without refuge. That promise remains as relevant today as it was then.
The right to seek asylum means legal protection. It means shelter, healthcare and education. It means the opportunity to work, contribute to society and live with dignity. Most importantly, it means hope – the hope that displacement does not have to define a person’s entire future. Uganda deserves recognition for keeping this promise alive. For decades, the country has maintained an open-door policy that has offered refuge to people escaping conflict and persecution. Equally deserving of appreciation are the host communities that have welcomed refugees into their villages and towns, sharing land, schools, health facilities and other public services despite facing challenges of their own.
But the responsibility does not rest with Uganda alone. Supporting refugees is a collective responsibility. Until everyone is safe, we must continue to safeguard access to asylum and pursue policies rooted in fairness, humanity and dignity. We must continue supporting host countries and communities that demonstrate extraordinary generosity. We must invest in solutions that enable refugees to move beyond survival toward self-reliance and inclusion. And we must reject fear and misinformation in favour of empathy, solidarity and facts.
Until everyone is safe, development partners and stakeholders will continue delivering on the promise made years ago – that people forced to flee have the right to seek safety and protection. This World Refugee Day, even without public gatherings, we can all play a role. We can stand with refugees. We can support the communities that host them. We can defend the right to seek safety. And we can remember that in an increasingly uncertain world, the promise of protection was never meant for a few. It was meant for all of us. Until everyone is safe, the work is not done.