UNHCR roots for home-grown solution to Africa's refugee crises
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-11-16 20:18:55 | Editor: huaxia

Somali children are seen on the World Refugee Day at a camp for displaced persons in the outskirts of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, June 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

NAIROBI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency on Thursday called upon African governments, corporations and civil society to explore innovative policy and funding interventions to tackle the continent's refugee crises worsened by conflicts and natural disasters.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that African led initiatives that focus on domestic mobilization of resources, improved governance and robust public engagement are key to offering better livelihoods to displaced persons from the continent's hotspots.

"We require home-grown solutions to refugee crisis on our doorstep. This objective can be realized through African centered initiatives to improve the welfare of refugees," remarked Philip Odary, fundraising officer of Private Sector Partnerships Service Department at UNHCR Kenyan Office.

He spoke in Nairobi during the launch of LUQULUQU campaign, an initiative of the UN refugee agency that seeks to promote Africa's time honored values like sharing, unity and neighborliness in order to transform the livelihoods of displaced persons.

The LQULUQU campaign that will also be launched in Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Ivory Coast aims to rally African opinion makers, entrepreneurs and change agents towards supporting refugee causes in their backyard.

The UNHCR Kenyan office will engage local business titans and celebrities to support the refugee causes through fundraising and public awareness.

"We are reaching out to the private sector, foundations and individual donors to contribute resources and support refugee programs," said Odary, adding that home-grown initiatives are key to advancing a new narrative of African refugees who are empowered, self reliant and included in mainstream economic activities.

Africa is home to an estimated 20 million refugees whose plight has worsened against a backdrop of dwindling overseas funding.

Kenya alone hosts close to half a million refugees displaced by civil turmoil in neighboring countries.

Senior Communications Officer at UNHCR Kenyan Office Yvonne Ndege noted that Africa has so far received 35 percent of funding towards refugee causes from external donors hence the need to explore local alternatives.

"Developed countries that have always funded humanitarian and refugee issues in Africa are experiencing domestic pressure to reduce support. We therefore call upon Africans to take action and solve the continent's refugee crises," Ndege said.

Back to Top Close
Xinhuanet

UNHCR roots for home-grown solution to Africa's refugee crises

Source: Xinhua 2017-11-16 20:18:55

Somali children are seen on the World Refugee Day at a camp for displaced persons in the outskirts of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, June 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

NAIROBI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency on Thursday called upon African governments, corporations and civil society to explore innovative policy and funding interventions to tackle the continent's refugee crises worsened by conflicts and natural disasters.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that African led initiatives that focus on domestic mobilization of resources, improved governance and robust public engagement are key to offering better livelihoods to displaced persons from the continent's hotspots.

"We require home-grown solutions to refugee crisis on our doorstep. This objective can be realized through African centered initiatives to improve the welfare of refugees," remarked Philip Odary, fundraising officer of Private Sector Partnerships Service Department at UNHCR Kenyan Office.

He spoke in Nairobi during the launch of LUQULUQU campaign, an initiative of the UN refugee agency that seeks to promote Africa's time honored values like sharing, unity and neighborliness in order to transform the livelihoods of displaced persons.

The LQULUQU campaign that will also be launched in Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Ivory Coast aims to rally African opinion makers, entrepreneurs and change agents towards supporting refugee causes in their backyard.

The UNHCR Kenyan office will engage local business titans and celebrities to support the refugee causes through fundraising and public awareness.

"We are reaching out to the private sector, foundations and individual donors to contribute resources and support refugee programs," said Odary, adding that home-grown initiatives are key to advancing a new narrative of African refugees who are empowered, self reliant and included in mainstream economic activities.

Africa is home to an estimated 20 million refugees whose plight has worsened against a backdrop of dwindling overseas funding.

Kenya alone hosts close to half a million refugees displaced by civil turmoil in neighboring countries.

Senior Communications Officer at UNHCR Kenyan Office Yvonne Ndege noted that Africa has so far received 35 percent of funding towards refugee causes from external donors hence the need to explore local alternatives.

"Developed countries that have always funded humanitarian and refugee issues in Africa are experiencing domestic pressure to reduce support. We therefore call upon Africans to take action and solve the continent's refugee crises," Ndege said.

010020070750000000000000011103261367577111