On 3 July, 2009 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Armenia invited Government of Armenia, the United Nations family, diplomatic missions, local and international organizations, private sector and refugees to mark the World Refugee Day and to inaugurate the Social House in Darbnik village of Ararat marz, reconstructed for Iraqi refugee families in Armenia.

In 2008, the building of the former agricultural college in Darbnik village of Ararat marz was kindly and readily provided to UNHCR by the Government of Armenia, namely the Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia/State Migration Agency, and was remodeled into 46 social apartments and 1 social room by UNHCR’s implementing partner YMCA Shelter. Furthermore, Government of Armenia ensured that the infrastructure of the building, gas and electricity, is in place, and Ararat marz authorities and Darbnik community greatly contributed to the installation of the external infrastructure of the building.

With the generous support of UNHCR’s partner in the private sector, VivaCell-MTS, UNHCR was able to complete the remodeling works of one block of the social house. Moreover, to secure basic living conditions for Iraqi refugees, UNHCR Armenia, jointly with US Embassy in Armenia, provided/will provide basic furniture sets to the families in their new social apartments in Darbnik.

UNHCR Armenia, through its implementing partners, Mission Armenia Charitable Social NGO and the Armenian Centre for Health and Education promotes social integration of refugees in Darbnik by helping them to integrate in the host community and in the society, in general. Further, the Future is Yours Charitable Social NGO, UNHCR’s partner for organizing this event, carried out a range of bridging community activities for refugees in Darbnik.

In her opening speech, UNHCR Armenia Representative Bushra Halepota wished the Iraqi families joy in their new neighbourhood and a dignified and happy life together in the generous community of Darbnik. “Indeed, a house is built by bricks but a home and community are built by hearts, and it is the close link with the community that makes this beautiful tuf building into a happy abode for Iraqi families”, Bushra Halepota added.

“Our duty is to ensure that those people who have been uprooted from their homes, and came to their Motherland, do not leave it in search of safe haven somewhere else.”, said VivaCell-MTS General Manager. “VivaCell-MTS as a corporate citizen, wants to contribute to this great initiative of housing, initiated by UNHCR. We believe that social adaptation and integration of people forced to flee their country starts from having their secure corner. We, the Armenians of Armenia, have to do our best to create conditions for these people to stay and see their children’s future here, in the historical motherland”, added Ralph Yirikian.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister of RA Armen Gevorgyan, VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian, honourable guests and refugees joined the UNHCR Armenia Representative in the tour around the Social House. They planted trees in the area of the Social House which symbolized the start of a new life of Iraqi refugee families in Darbnik. The event was also celebrated with national cuisine, exhibition and colourful performances of refugee children from Darbnik and regions, passing the message of hope, peace, warmth and solidarity.

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Windhoek celebrated the World Refugee day. The day had been observed on 20 June 2009 at the Osire settlement within the Otjiwarongo district under the theme, "real people,real needs."  The event was held to highlight the plight of refugees but also to demonstrate their contributions to cultural diversity around the Mrs. Penehupifo Pohamba , the First Lady, with Joyce Mends-Cole, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at the event world. Joyce ends-Cole, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that Namibia currently hosts about 8 000 refugees, most of them from Angola. About 6 600 of them lived at the Osire camp while the rest were spread around the country.

The first lady, Mrs. Penehupifo Pohamba delivered the keynote address at the commemoration of World Refugee Day, expressing her contentment of the healthcare provision, education, community services and food security of refugees in Namibia.  The following members of the Diplomatic Corp participated in the celebrations at Osire: Representative of European Union, Ms. Elizabeth Pape, High Commissioner of South Africa, Ms. E.G. Komane, High Commissioner of Nigeria, Prince Adegboyega Christopher Ariyo, and Ambassador of the United States of America, Denise Mathieu and the High Commissioner of Zambia, Ms.Mavis Lengalenga Muyunda.

World Refugee Day was observed in many different ways around the world, from rock and classical music concerts to conferences and memorial services, and in Azerbaijan, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government of Azerbaijan organized a joint event on 18 June 2009 at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Concert Hall with the theme: “Real People, Real Needs.” 

The audience had an opportunity to watch a short video produced by UNHCR with images of refugee and internally displaced children around the world. This event also included singing, traditional and national dancing and poetry recitals by Afghani, Iranian, Iraqi, Chechen and Azeri refugees and displaced children. Attendees included representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, members of the Parliament, ambassadors, representatives of the UN and other international organizations, civil society, refugees and internally displaced persons and the media. The Department of Public Information (UN DPI) Office in Azerbaijan provided messages of the UN Secretary-General and the Commissioner for Refugees along with the press release in Azerbaijani, English and Russian languages and offered complete media support to the UNHCR office for the occasion.  

For a complete report on this event, please visit the website of UN DPI Office in Azerbaijan.

On 26 June the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Bujumbura together with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Operations in Burundi (BINUB) organized a ceremony to commemorate World Refugee Day under the theme, "Building the future".

The Representative of the UNHCR in Burundi and the chef de cabinet in the Ministry of National Solidarity, Repatriation, Human Rights and Gender delivered speeches and presented awards to media professionals for the best media production on the topic of "Repatriation and Reintegration of Burundian former refugees." The competition was organized by the UNIC and the UNHCR. The pictures were exhibited in the Centre.

One hundred people attended the ceremony, among them representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the repatriation and reintegration sectors, members of the diplomatic corps, government representatives, and media professionals. UNIC Bujumbura distributed the Secretary-General's message in French and Kirundi to the attendees.