World Refugee Day 2024 in Europe | UNHCR Europe (2024)

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World Refugee Day 2024 in Europe | UNHCR Europe? ›

Together, we can champion their right to seek safety, build support for their economic and social inclusion, and advocate for solutions to their plight. The next World Refugee Day will be held on 20 June 2024.

On 20 June every year, WHO joins UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners in marking World Refugee Day. This year's campaign focuses on solidarity with refugees – for a world where refugees are welcomed, universal health coverage must include them as well.

Many more – a record 120 million people by the end of May 2024 – have been forcibly displaced globally, including millions trapped in conflict zones within their own countries, from Gaza to Sudan, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Myanmar, from Colombia to Haiti.

Montenegro is now the country in Europe that has received the most refugees per capita, and ranks sixth in the world. Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, is also among the countries in Europe that have received most refugees in relation to their population, having taken in over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.

Each year, World Refugee Day on 20 June prompts global reflection on the plight of refugees. It is promoted as a celebration of resilience and an opportunity to urge policymakers to act.

In a world marked by displacement and the search for refuge, this year's Refugee Week theme “Finding Freedom” – with a focus on family – encapsulates the profound journey of resilience, strength, and unity that defines the refugee experience.

World Refugee Day is about honouring their strength and courage – and stepping up efforts to protect and support refugees on every step of their journey. Refugees need global solidarity and the ability to rebuild their lives in dignity.

Turkey is the single biggest host country for refugees. Most refugees living in Turkey come from Syria, where an ongoing conflict has displaced families since 2011.

By the end of June 2023, 110 million people were displaced worldwide, while UNHCR projects that there will be more than 130 million forcibly displaced persons in 2024. Around 52% of all these refugees originated from only 3 countries: Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.

World Refugee Day falls each year on 20 June and is dedicated to refugees around the globe.

What countries are not accepting refugees in Europe? ›

Gallup's updated Migrant Acceptance Index ranks North Macedonia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro – southeast European countries that along with Greece and Italy faced the initial waves of refugees – as the least-accepting countries for migrants.

Per receiving country

In March 2024, Germany maintained its position as the foremost destination for asylum seekers in the EU+, receiving the most applications (18,000) which amounts to 22% of the total.

Germany emerges as the top EU member state in terms of the number of registered applications (329,000), accounting for nearly a third of all first-time asylum seekers (31 per cent).

The words “World Refugee Day” are placed at the centre top of the figures, and “20 June” is placed at under the figures at the centre. All elements of the logo are the one color – green.

Refugee Week is the world's largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

UN peacekeepers are often there to protect the camps in which refugees must live. When they are left without access to such basic necessities as food, water, sanitation and health care, the UN family provides it. Much of this support is provided through the United Nations humanitarian action machinery.

The words “World Refugee Day” are placed at the centre top of the figures, and “20 June” is placed at under the figures at the centre. All elements of the logo are the one color – green.

Refugee Week is the world's largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. The festival is a partnership project coordinated by Counterpoints Arts.

Use the hashtags #IWelcomeBecause and #WorldRefugeeDay, and tag @HIASrefugees in your post. Tag a friend and ask them to join in welcoming refugees.

Another great way for you to join us in raising awareness is to follow us on our social media. We will regularly post about issues that refugees and asylum seekers face, and by sharing those posts, you can help to raise awareness with your friends and family. Click below to find our social media pages.