Overview
June 20 is World Refugee Day and this year, Oxfam is calling on Congress to take action on restoring America's tradition of welcoming the most vulnerable people into our communities. This includes increasing the number of refugees resettled in the US, ensuring adequate funding for government programs that support refugees, and ending the Muslim Ban.
You can use your voice to show solidarity with refugees through your social media platforms. Follow us on social media (@OxfamAmerica) and if you tag us, we will try to amplify your message through a like, retweet, or repost.
- Twitter: @OxfamAmerica
- Instagram: @OxfamAmerica
- Facebook: Oxfam America
- Hashtags: #RefugeesWelcome #WRD2019 #WorldRefugeeDay
Who are refugees?
Under international law, a refugee is a person located outside the country of his or her nationality who has a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Key Facts
- By the end of 2018, almost 70.8 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations.
- There are 37,000 people forcibly displaced everyday—that's 25 people forced to flee per minute.
- 1 out of every 108 people globally are displaced.
- Children under the age of 18 constituted about 50% of the refugees in 2018.
- Of the 25.9 million refugees, only 92,400 were resettled to 25 countries in 2018—that's less than 7% of those awaiting resettlement.
- Less than 1% of those forcibly displaced are resettled.
- Countries in developed regions hosted 16 per cent of refugees, while one third of the global refugee population (6.7 million people) were in the least developed countries.
Sample Social Media
Tweets
Every day, families around the world are forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life. This #WorldRefugeeDay, we must continue our #US tradition of welcoming refugees into our country. oxf.am/WRD2019 #RefugeesWelcome #WRD2019
Nearly 70.8 MILLION people around the world have been forced to flee their homes—carrying countless stories of hardship, perseverance, and hope. This #WorldRefugeeDay, STAND UP AND SPEAK LOUDLY in support of refugees. oxf.am/WRD2019 #RefugeesWelcome #WRD2019
On World Refugee Day, make a difference in the lives of refugees seeking safety in the US and tell Congress to restore America’s tradition of welcoming the most vulnerable people: oxf.am/WRD2019 #RefugeesWelcome #WRD2019
#FACT: Nearly 40 percent of those displaced around the world are refugees—that's more than 25.9 MILLION #refugees in the world. oxf.am/WRD2019 #RefugeesWelcome #WRD2019
Right now, refugee admissions to the US are the lowest ever in the history of the resettlement program, which started in 1980. The program has given refuge to families who fear for their lives and have nowhere else to turn. As a country founded by immigrants, we have seen just how much refugees enrich our communities. Refugees have opened businesses; become our engineers, doctors, artists; served our country as soldiers, and as teachers. This #WorldRefugeeDay, let's STAND UP and SPEAK LOUDLY in support of refugees.
Every single day, thousands of families are forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life. Many escape with nothing but the clothes on their back, fleeing conflict, violence, and poverty. Shamefully, these vulnerable families are under attack. This #WorldRefugeeDay, make a difference in the lives of refugees seeking safety in the US by telling Congress to restore America’s tradition of welcoming the most vulnerable people into our communities. #WRD2019 oxf.am/WRD2019