[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 92 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1194-E1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF WORLD REFUGEE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2011

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor World Refugee Day and 
the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the 
Status of Refugees. While we are commemorating World Refugee Day all 
week, the plight of refugees continues day in and day out. As I speak, 
there are some 15.4 million refugees around the world. But, there's 
another dimension to this humanitarian crisis that I want to highlight. 
Worldwide, there are an estimated 27.5 million internally displaced 
people who have fled their homes, but remain within their country's 
borders. So, as we mark World Refugee Day, we cannot forget internally 
displaced people who are refugees within their own countries.
  In total, there are 43 million refugees and displaced people globally 
which is roughly the

[[Page E1195]]

entire population of Colombia. In fact, in Colombia, our hemispheric 
neighbor, there are an estimated 4 million internally displaced people, 
equivalent to the entire population of Los Angeles. Pakistan has nearly 
2 million refugees, and Somalia, Sudan, and Iraq all have over a 
million displaced people each.
  Displaced persons are a national security issue as much as a 
humanitarian crisis that violates basic human rights. This spring, I 
hosted Congressional briefings with Antonio Guterres, the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Alexander Aleinikoff, the 
Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees. I commend the work of the U.N. 
High Commissioner and the many organizations--large and small--that are 
on the frontlines providing basic relief and security to displaced 
communities. And I will do everything I can to inform my colleagues 
about this important work.
  But, while immediate relief is essential, we also must tackle the 
root causes of conflict and poverty that continue to drive up the 
number of displaced people. We cannot be a just and peaceful world with 
so many living without basic human rights and protections. So, this 
week, and every week, I will continue to use my voice and vote to end 
this humanitarian crisis and bring justice, security, and enduring 
peace to the millions of displaced people around the world.

                          ____________________