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MOGADISHU — The National Commission for Refugees and IDPs (NCRI) today commemorated World Refugee Day, which is officially observed on June 20 each year, holding the event two days ahead of its official date as it coincided this year with the start of the national secondary school examinations in Somalia, reaffirming solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers living in the country and highlighting their humanitarian situation.
Speaking at the event, NCRI Chairman Liban Abdi Egal reaffirmed the support of the Federal Government and the Somali people for all refugees and asylum seekers residing in Somalia, praising their resilience and contributions to social cohesion and humanitarian solidarity.
He stated that Somalia currently hosts more than 45,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Palestine, emphasizing the country’s commitment to hospitality, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation with host communities.
The event was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of the Federal Government of Somalia and attended by ministers and members of the Federal Parliament, representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), civil society organizations, humanitarian partners, and representatives of refugee and asylum-seeker communities living in Somalia.
The Chairman noted that Somalia continues to face significant humanitarian challenges related to displacement and forced migration, with more than 3.8 million internally displaced persons across the country and over 1.2 million Somali refugees living in neighboring countries.
He stressed that the Federal Government of Somalia will continue its efforts to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, expand their access to essential services, and promote their participation in development and community stabilization programs.
Participants echoed this year’s theme, “No One Will Be Left Behind While Any of Us Suffers,” reaffirming the importance of humanitarian solidarity and shared responsibility in supporting the most vulnerable populations.
World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20 to honor the resilience of refugees and forcibly displaced people worldwide and to raise awareness of their rights and humanitarian needs. This year, the National Commission for Refugees and IDPs in Somalia commemorated the occasion on June 18, two days before its official date, due to its coincidence with the launch of the national secondary school examinations across the country. The move reflected the Commission’s commitment to ensuring broad participation by government institutions, international partners, civil society organizations, and refugee representatives, while reaffirming Somalia’s dedication to supporting refugees and asylum seekers and advancing durable solutions to displacement challenges in a manner that promotes humanitarian solidarity, stability, and sustainable development.
