World Refugee Day: More than a Number

Some 38.7 million people live as refugees and internally displaced people around the world, forced to choose between safety and their family and the comforts of home. Of those, 46 percent are children under the age of 18. This World Refugee Day, June 20th, the American Red Cross joins with the global community to call attention to the needs of these refugees and the ways in which people can help shoulder their burden.

World Refugee Day is an annual commemoration established by the United Nations to recognize refugees and displaced persons for their courage and resilience in the face of conflict and strife. This year, the Restoring Family Links program of the American Red Cross is working with partners and members of the refugee community in Seattle, Houston, Phoenix, Minneapolis and Washington, DC to celebrate World Refugee Day. These events will celebrate the refugee community while also highlighting the services provided by the American Red Cross and other refugee service organizations.

At each American Red Cross supported World Refugee Day event across the US, there will be an opportunity to connect families who have been separated by crisis, conflict or migration. These opportunities will vary depending on the location but, as a whole, will represent the full spectrum of Restoring Family Links services including Red Cross Messages and phone communication opportunities. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/worldrefugeeday