WORLD REFUGEE DAY

World Refugee Day is celebrated around the globe on 20 June every year.

The theme for this year is:

"keeping the flame of hope alive" - a salute to the indomitable spirit and courage of the world's refugees.

In a message, the UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Guterres said: "There is one common trait among the tens of millions of refugees that we at the UN refugee agency have helped over the past 55 years, it's the fact that despite losing everything, they never give up hope."

"World Refugee Day is part of that common effort as we gather on June 20 in cities and towns, in refugee camps and in remote settlements to pay tribute to the courageous, unwavering hope of the world's refugees – and to assure them that they are not forgotten," the High Commissioner said.

Click on WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2006 to see how the world is celebrating this date which aims to recognise the contribution which refugees make to the countries which are hosting them.