World Refugee Day 2009, “ Real People, Real Needs ”
Kenyan children internally displaced by election violence in 2008.
Each year the United Nations commemorates World Refugee Day on 20 June.
It is an opportunity to highlight the plight of refugees and the important role that governments and other organisations play in protecting refugees, helping them meet their immediate needs, and ultimately restart their lives.
It is also a chance to recognise the extraordinary courage and resilience shown by people who are forced to leave their homes due to persecution or conflict.
Helping respond to the humanitarian needs of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons worldwide is one of New Zealand 's obligations as a good international citizen and member of the United Nations.
It is also a vital aspect of NZAID's role and everyday work.
Refugees are people who have been forced to leave their homes due to civil or international conflict, a natural disaster, or persecution.
At the end of 2008 the United Nations estimates that 42 million people worldwide had been forcibly uprooted from their homes by conflict or persecution.
This total includes 16 million refugees and asylum seekers and 26 million internally displaced people.
Internally displaced people are refugees who have been forced to leave their home because of civil conflict or a natural disaster but who remain in their own country or a neighbouring country.
In most cases the aim is to assist internally displaced people to return to their homes when peace has been restored and/or their homes are again habitable.
While they are displaced, it is important that these people are provided with food, shelter, water and medical care. The recent conflict in north east Sri Lanka, where over 250,000 people were displaced within a matter of months shows what a huge humanitarian challenge this can be.
Outside the Pacific region, where most of the international crises involving refugees are currently taking place, New Zealand 's response is generally part of a broader international effort. Although the numbers of refugees in the Pacific are low, where the main group are Papuan refugees in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand also provides humanitarian assistance in the Pacific region for people displaced, usually temporarily, by natural disasters.
Each year New Zealand, through NZAID, contributes significantly to the operation of the main UN humanitarian agencies, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
In 2008/09 NZAID provided core contributions to these four agencies totalling $NZ 24 million. Another $8 million went to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), $ 2.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and $1 million to UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Multilateral agencies and programmes such as these provide an effective global mechanism by which countries such as New Zealand can address poverty, conflict, governance issues, and humanitarian crises worldwide.
In deciding which multilateral agencies to engage with NZAID is guided by its Multilateral Engagement Strategy and principles of good humanitarian donorship.
Current refugee crises and emergencies
In addition to general multilateral engagement, New Zealand also contributes to specific emergencies throughout the year.
Recently, New Zealand support for refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons included:
Iraq - contributions to UNHCR since 2006/07 total NZ$2.75m
NZAID has provided funding to UNHCR for Iraqi refugees since 06/07. New Zealand 's assistance to the UNHCR has helped support refugees outside the country as well as refugees who have returned home.
Democratic Republic of Congo - contribution of NZ$1million to UNHCR
UNHCR is leading the work aimed at protecting people in camps for internally displaced people and coordinates and manages the camps and settlements.
UNHCR is also responding in neighbouring countries where Congolese have fled - particularly Uganda, where more than 10,500 Congolese have sought refuge.
Somalia and Sudan - New Zealand supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Our contributions to the ICRC in the Sudan and Somalia are also used to support internally displaced people.
Somalia is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis described by the United Nations as the worst in the country in 17 years. Armed conflict has triggered massive population displacement, which has been compounded by drought, runaway inflation, and high food prices. The ICRC is one of the few agencies operating in Somalia. New Zealand contributed $1 million to its response to the crisis in 2008.
In the Darfur region of Sudan, the needs of the civilian population are high and increasing levels of violence have left millions people displaced or vulnerable, and there are increasing levels of hunger and malnutrition. Last year New Zealand will contributed $750,000 to ICRC to protect and assist victims of the conflict, and $700,000 to the World Food Programme.
Afghanistan - 2008/2009 allocation of $7 million
A recent profiling exercise by the UNHCR estimated that there are now some 200,000 IDPs in Afghanistan, although this is a fluid situation affected by drought in 2008 and localized conflicts.
NZAID's programme in Afghanistan focuses on sustainable rural livelihoods, health, education, and capacity development of provincial government and non-governmental organisation staff, and also pays close attention to human rights.
New Zealand NGO's
NZAID also supports a number of New Zealand NGOs that are working with refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons. The main vehicle for such support is the KOHA - PICD, a co-funding programme which is jointly managed by NZAID and New Zealand NGOs.
In 2007/08 NZAID's overall budget for multilateral development assistance is approximately $72.9 million. NZAID spent almost 33 percent of its programme budget on multilateral agencies, either through core-funding, bilateral programmes or regional programmes.
You can read more about how NZAID works to help people in times of need here.
More information
For more information on UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and World Refugee Day click here.
To learn more about World Refugee Day and what is planned around New Zealand click here.
Refugee Services is New Zealand 's principal refugee resettlement agency. Find out more about them here.
Page Last Reviewed: 19 June, 2009