South Sudan on Tuesday 20th June joined the rest of the World to commemorate The World Refugee Day, which is celebrated annually on the 20th of June.

In Juba, The UN refugee agency UNHCR marked the day at the Gorom refugee settlement on the outskirts of Juba city, where more than 3,000 refugees from Sudanese, Ethiopia, Burundi, DR Congo and Eritrea are being resettled. This year’s World Refugee Day focuses on solutions for refugees and the power of inclusion, commemorated under the theme “Hope away from home.” UNHCR’s Country Representative Marie -Helene Verney said, this year’s, Word Refugee Day 2023 comes amidst a large-scale emergency (Sudan’s crisis) that has seen more than 120,000 South Sudanese and 8,000 refugees arrive since mid-April. Many of them have arrived in Gorom and joined some 300,000 other refuges who were already in South Sudan.

“Behind these numbers are women, children, men, youth who have endured loss, separation from family members, and violence during flight” she said. In addition, more than 2.2 million South Sudanese are still refugees in other countries in the region: it is the largest refugee emergency in Africa.

In her message to the refugees currently in South Sudan – especially for those who have just arrived, the Representative echoed that it can be hard to imagine a future full of hope. “For all refugee women and men, and perhaps especially for young refugees: please do not give hope. Your example is an inspiration for many of us who work in UNHCR, and humanitarian NGOs and we are here to listen to you and help you rebuild hope”.

The deputy commissioner for the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA) Hon John Dabi, encouraged the refugees to take all the opportunities available in the country. He said the South Sudan Refugee Law is a progressive law, that allows refugees to seek for employment, or carry out businesses.  He said the law also allows refugees to be allocated land to farm and produce their own food and be self-reliant to avoid the dependency on aid.

“Make use of the conducive environment in South Sudan to build yourself and progress with the expertise and professions you have”

Hon Dabi also called upon the Sudanese refugee students who are in candidate classes both primary and secondary to register so that their lists are submitted to the Ministry of general education for consideration to seat for the exams.

The World Refugee Day 2023 was commemorated across the Country in the different UNHCR’s Field and Sub – Offices with various activities ranging from dances and drama, poems, essay writing, speeches, football matches between the host community and refugees/ returnees.