Belgium: On June 20, Belgium celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
The full-scale war in Ukraine, alongside conflict elsewhere and climate-driven upheaval, meant more people than ever remained uprooted from their homes last year, heightening the urgency for immediate, collective action to alleviate the causes and impact of displacement.
UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, just published the flagship annual report, Global Trends in Forced Displacement 2022. It found that by the end of 2022, the number of people displaced by war, persecution, violence and human rights abuses stood at a record 108.4 million, up 19.1 million from a year earlier, which was the biggest ever increase.
Belgium remains a key donor to UNHCR. Multi-year funding provides a critical lifeline in a world often filled with uncertainty, allowing for predictability in our response to those in need. According to UNHCR, 32,058 refugee asylum applications were received in 2022 in Belgium. Most of them came from Afghanistan, Syria and from Burundi.
As a member of UNHCR’s Advisory Committee and a founding member of the governing Executive Committee since 1959, one of Belgium’s priorities is the effective delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need through a commitment to efficiency, change and improving the humanitarian system overall.
Adhering to the principles of the Grand Bargain, including increasing transparency and predictability in humanitarian aid, Belgium’s support aligns with UNHCR’s priorities and allows us to make a greater impact.
This year, UNHCR Brussels is launching the first edition of the « 14 Jours #AvecLesRéfugiés » (“14 Days with Refugees”) from 14 to June 28 – two weeks of action-packed activities celebrating the courage and contributions of forcibly displaced people.
