By Robert Ambrose

The United Nation’s (UN) World Refugee Day, June 20, is marking a 75th anniversary. World Refugee Day marks the importance of refugees’ struggle. Statelessness is without a place to call home. But the refugees are not without backup.

The UN Secretary General said, “We call for stronger support for all those forced to flee, as well as the countries and communities hosting them.”

The UN recognizes that there are more refugees today second to no other era.

“At the end of 2021, the total number of people worldwide who were forced to flee their homes due to conflicts, violence, fear of persecution and human rights violations was 89.3 million. This is more than double the 42.7 million people who remained forcibly displaced a decade ago and the most since World War II.”

In fact, currently there are 118 million displaced people. 

The American Red Cross helps reunite lost individuals to their families. The Restoring Family Links program receives requests, conducts research and reintroduces family members. The separation of family members happens because of war, drought and famine. People flee in those desperate circumstances.

Local Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross volunteers like Robert Pollock and Margot Hillman reunite families through research and perseverance. Their work was featured on our website in mid-December. Click here to read the story.