The Head of UNHCR mission in Kosovo, Narasimha Rao, said that “today we recognize the suffering of all those who had to flee in order to save their lives. Over 65 million people are either refugees or displaced persons.
“In Kosovo, we work together with Kosovo authorities, civil society and others to ensure that those who want to return to their homes can do it safely and with dignity,” Rao said.
He added that enabling of voluntary return to Kosovo is responsibility of all institutions. UNHCR estimates that there are about 16,000 displaced persons in Kosovo. Over 800 refugees from Kosovo remain displaced in Montenegro, and almost 600 displaced persons are in fYROM.
“They are all waiting for permanent solutions to their situation. UNHCR estimates that about 90,000 IDPs in Serbia remain without a lasting solution,” the organization said UNHCR in the statement.
On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, the UN Refugee Agency reports that the number of refugees and internally displaced persons is the highest ever. The number of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons in the world exceeded 65.6 million people.
The largest number of refugees comes from Syria. “According to all criteria, this is an unacceptable number that speaks louder than ever in support of the need for solidarity and the common goal of preventing and resolving crises, and to ensure together that refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers in the world are adequately protected and taken care of while solutions are found,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
“We have to do more for these people. For a world burdened by conflicts need determination and courage, not fear,” added Grandi.
