U N H C R

 

U N H C R

 

  Liberian teachers Li and their familie A first group of internally displaced teachers have returned to Zwedru in eastern Liberia in an attempt to resume basic services like education in areas of return. Meanwhile, the stream of spontaneous returnees continues.    

          

           UNHCR faces heavy tasks in providing support to over 20 million refugees around the world such as the Balkans, Timor, Africa's Great Lakes region, West Africa, the Balkans, and Central America. How did so many people come to face the basic needs of protection, food, water, sanitation and medical care?

 

           The Balkans refugees were caused by war between Serbs and Croatians going on for generations. With the help of the UNHCR, displaced people are given protection and basic human needs.

 

           In South America, over 1.9 million Columbians are refugees in their own country due to infighting between the military, drug dealers, and Marxist guerrillas.

           In West Africa, tribal infighting in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia has displaced over 60,000 people.

           In Central Africa, tribal infighting in Tanzania, Burundi, and Angola has displaced millions of people.

           In Chechnya, fighting between Russians and Chechs has displaced 200,000 people.

           In Afghanistan, conflicts have displaced 4 millions people.

 

           All and all, the UNHCR plays major roles in the lives of desperate people who need protection, food, water, sanitation, and medical needs. These are all due to infighting, political or tribal differences. If UNHCR were not involved, many of these refugees were left to die. It takes dedicated manpower and monies to support this great project. The United States and Japan contribute the most in dollars (attached "Major Contributors to UNHCR in 2000") toward this great work for humanity. It is not easy and is very sensitive when the UNHCR gets involved in another country's conflicts.

 

           The humanitarian works of the UNHCR cannot go unnoticed. Rich countries must continue their monetary and military support to the UNHCR to ensure that refugees in any country are protected. To maintain international peace and security, UNHCR develops friendly relations among nations and encourages respect for human rights and freedoms. UNHCR is the utmost righteous organization for the world.

 

 

 

March 2004

S. Rhee

     

 

 

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie visiting Jordan's Ruweished refugee camp in December 2003. © UNHCR/B.Bronee