UNHCR Syria commemorates World Refugee Day

Interactive theatre, to food festivals and cultural bazaars, thousands of people across Syria took part in events to mark World Refugee Day at a time when globally the number of children, women and men displaced from their homes has broken all records.

IN DAMASCUS, hundreds of children, women and men from the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Syrians came together to showcase their art, handicrafts, and traditional cuisines. The talented youth performed their traditional songs and dances to a crowd roaring for more.

IN ALEPPO, UNHCR along with refugees, the internally displaced people and host community joined together to take a #StepWithRefugees taking part in a global challenge to mark their solidarity with displaced people across the world. In the old city of Aleppo, hundreds marched around the city with one message to the world “We Stand Together.”

IN QAMISHLI, a football match brought together UNHCR and refugees. And the winner is the Refugees with majority hailing from Iraq. Football is the language of the world which brings all together.

IN HOMS, children, women and men from Iraq, Sudan and Yemen attend a play performed by volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and a refugee youth group whose performances highlight their cultures and traditions.

IN SWEIDA, UNHCR together with local partner Baraem held various activities at Rassas collective shelter. More than 400 hundred Syrians internally displaced and refugees attend an interactive play by the children shedding light on their daily life in the collective shelter, their longing for their homes and hopes for the future.

All the events and activities carried one message; a message of solidarity and hope.