World Refugee Day: BEACON calls for inclusive humanitarian response
By Sani Idris Abdulrahman
As the world marks World Refugee Day, a Kaduna based NGO, the BEACON of Transformative and Inclusive Development Center, has called for inclusion in humanitarian response.
The theme of the BEACON’s celebration is “Inclusion in Exile: Protecting Dignity, Rebuilding Peace”.
Executive Director of the BEACON, Mrs Abigail Olatunde, in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday in Kaduna, lamented that over 120 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced.
Olatunde also lamented that Africa has more than 43 million displaced people, with Nigeria alone accounting for over four million internally displaced persons due to violence, environmental shocks, and insecurity.
She noted that the displaced face significant challenges, including lack of access to healthcare, education, legal identity and safe housing.
According to her, displacement affects everyone, but not equally, where persons with disabilities, older persons, women, and children face unique struggles.
“The humanitarian system often falls short, failing to provide inclusive services such as sign language interpreters, assistive devices and accessible shelters,” she said.
The executive director believed that peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, dignity, and opportunity.
She, therefore, called for an inclusive humanitarian design, access to healthcare, education, legal identity, shelter, recognition of climate-displaced persons and investment in resilience and dignity.
“Every child enrolled, every ID issued and every clinic with ramps, interpreters and inclusive care is an act of peacebuilding, not charity.
“Let us ensure inclusion, travel with people, even in exile, and protect the dignity of the displaced. Displacement may take people from their homes, but it must never take away their rights,” she said.(NAN)
Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Ekemini Ladejobi
Published By
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Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent,
FCT Correspondent,
NAN Abuja.
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