World Refugee Day 2018: Nigeria to continue solidarity with refugees, IDPs

Nigeria will join the rest of the international community to commemorate the 2018 World Refugee day traditionally on June 20 on the theme We stand #WithRefugees highlighting global solidarity with people forced by wars and conflict to quit their countries.

This year's commemoration comes as wars and civil conflicts multiply and many families forced to flee. In Nigeria the preceding year has been characterised by an influx of Cameroonian refugees fleeing clashes between the government and separatist forces. With a staggering figure of over 21,000, registered so far, UNHCR and partners are still registering more arrivals.

Today the needs far outweigh the assistance offered and it's evident that a different approach is required.

As governments consider better ways to manage refugee crises #WithRefugees is mobilizing global public action, innovation and solidarity for refugees.

Just as last year, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced (NCFRMI), ECOWAS and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency have conceived a number of cultural activities to animate the event not only at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja but also at Ikom and Adikpo in the Cross River and Benue states where Cameroonian refugees are hosted. Another commemoration as is the tradition is slated for Lagos in solidarity with close to 2,000 Urban Refugees.

In Abuja, the event will be attended by the donor and diplomatic community, top government administrative and political officials and other stakeholders.