The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a campaign to build awareness for the plight of refugees around the world.
The campaign is part of a series of events leading up to World Refugee Day on June 20 – a day dedicated to the global problems of refugees and the dilemma of staying in a conflict zone or risking the dangers of fleeing.
The initiative consists of advertisements in 325 buses across the National Capital region.
“Our goal is to reach as many Canadians as possible and to present the situation in which refugees sometimes find themselves,” said Furio De Angelis, UNHCR Representative in Canada. “In a risk-filled situation like war or conflict, refugees can remain or take other risks in search of safety.
“We want the Canadian public to put themselves in the refugees’ shoes. Fleeing abroad also has a lot of risks. The flights can be dangerous, and refugees are prey for smugglers and traffickers. There is no easy answer,” he added.
The bus advertisements, which bear a call-to-action driving people to UNHCR.ca/TakeAction, are part of a global campaign created at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. It runs until July 1.
