Arua city gears up for World Refugee Day
Jun 03, 2024
This year’s celebrations will be held under the theme: Solidarity With Refugees.
Jovia Echonia, the Assistant Community Based Protection Officer UNHCR Arua sub office. (Photo by Robert Adiga)
Robert Adiga
Journalist @New Vision
___________________ The planning meeting for World Refugee Day in Arua City. (Photo by Robert Adiga)
West Nile region and Arua city in particular is preparing to host the National celebrations of World Refugee Day.
The day, June 20, 2024, shall be marked at Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Terego district.
This year’s celebrations will be held under the theme: Solidarity With Refugees.
Meanwhile, Arua city intends to organise a belated celebration on June 25, 2024, to show solidarity with the over 23,000 refugees and migrants living in the city without being officially recognised by the Government’s refugee policy in the country.
The city authority, together with the development partners headed by UNHCR and refugee leaders held the first planning meeting in the Arua city Board room on Tuesday.
Jovia Echonia, the assistant community-based protection officer UNHCR Arua sub-office, said all the other settlements in the country are expected to participate in the national celebrations in West Nile.
She acknowledged the presence of self-settled refugees in Arua city and other towns but insisted that their current implementation mode only allows them to operate within refugee settlements.
Bonjira Malish, the executive director South Sudanese Refugees Association (SSURA), said the celebration of the day will highlight the contributions made by the refugees in the region while strengthening co-existence with the host community.
She appealed to the development partners to partner with the city authority to ensure success in the maiden celebration in the city.
Twaib Feni, the chief executive officer of West Nile Civil Society Network said it is important to show solidarity with refugees since many of the host community members at one point went as refugees in various countries.
No Comment