Freelance Correspondent
Head of the National Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Miriam Aertker, says the majority of the 26,000-plus refugees and asylum seekers registered by the T&T Government are playing a role to uplift the country. However, to do so properly, they must be given the chance.
She made the comment during World Refugee Day celebrations at Saith Park, Chaguanas, yesterday.
“Refugees and asylum-seekers are uplifting the communities they live in by starting businesses like the many food trucks we see in Endeavour, Chaguanas, including The Guilty Food Truck, which now has branches in other parts of the country. They are making friends, starting families and making the best of available opportunities,” Aertker said.
She said World Refugee Day was marked on June 20 annually.
“Every year we observe this day to show solidarity with the millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee war, violence, or persecution. Today, we observe it in a world that leaves many of the 35 million refugees (about 25 times the population of Trinidad and Tobago) without the solutions they need,” she said.
She said the refugees in T&T come from 41 different countries.
“You are recognising their plight and lived experience, while also honouring their courage, their hopes, and their contributions to host countries,” she said.
“Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety is the most effective way to enable them to rebuild their lives and contribute to local economies and the countries hosting them.
“Concretely, this means promoting refugees’ rights to apply for jobs, enrol in schools, and access services like housing and health care.”
Aertker said no matter how long they remain in exile, refugees want to carry on with their lives, be independent and be part of the community.
“It is my hope that by being here today, you are committing to helping remove the barriers and obstacles asylum seekers and refugees face. Obstacles such as racism, xenophobia, lack of access to national education or competition for jobs or resources,” Aertker said.
“More than anything, most refugees’ greatest wish is to return home one day. But in a world short on peace, the next best thing is the chance to regain control of their lives. The chance for opportunities, not handouts. The chance to be self-reliant and use their talents and passions to contribute to the communities hosting them.”