WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues have introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing World Refugee Day on June 20th. The resolution reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United States Senate to promote the safety, health, and well-being of the millions of refugees who flee war, persecution, and torture in search of peace and freedom.
“A refugee crisis of epic proportions is gripping the globe requiring an intensified humanitarian assistance effort. The scale of these unfolding tragedies is immense,” Senator Cardin said. “Every person fleeing their home deserves compassion and the right to live in safety and dignity. We must recommit ourselves to working smarter and harder to assist the world’s most vulnerable people.”
“Recent conflicts and persecution, especially religious persecution, have resulted in the largest number of displaced persons since World War II,” said Senator Rubio. “The U.S. must continue to lead on this issue and work to ensure that refugees who flee war, torture and persecution are provided safe environments to live and thrive in.”
The resolution honors refugees around the world who have fled conflict, persecution and human rights abuses. Last year, 14 million people were newly uprooted by violence, most escaping conflict in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, Ukraine, Burma and Afghanistan. Conflict and persecution have also pushed millions out of areas of sub-Saharan Africa. For the first time since World War II, there are now over 60 million displaced people worldwide, including over 20 million refugees, 38 million internally displaced people and an estimated 10 million stateless people.
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