World Refugee Day is marked on June 20 every year to highlight the suffering of millions of people forced to flee their homes, such as these Palestinian children in Gaza, due to war or persecution. EPA
World Refugee Day is marked on June 20 every year to highlight the suffering of millions of people forced to flee their homes, such as these Palestinian children in Gaza, due to war or persecution. EPA
World Refugee Day is marked on June 20 every year to highlight the suffering of millions of people forced to flee their homes, such as these Palestinian children in Gaza, due to war or persecution. EPA
World Refugee Day is marked on June 20 every year to highlight the suffering of millions of people forced to flee their homes, such as these Palestinian children in Gaza, due to war or persecution. EP

Art

Four virtual events you can still attend to mark World Refugee Day

From film screenings to online discussions, these events aim to help people understand the plight of refugees

Samia Badih
Samia Badih

June 20, 2020

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  • Arabic

World Refugee Day is marked every year on June 20. Created by the United Nations in 2000, the day is meant to shed light on the situation of refugees around the world.

According to the UNHCR's most recent numbers, at least 79.5 million people around the world had been forced to leave their homes by the end of 2019, among which there are 26 million refugees.

To mark World Refugee Day, here are four virtual events, taking place today and in the coming week, that you can join in support of the cause.

Refugee Film Festival 

On Saturday, June 20, the UNHCR in Thailand is holding the 9th Refugee Film Festival, which is taking place virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The festival brings together a selection of films that focus on the experience of refugees across the world. Award-winning Syrian documentary The Cave by Feras Fayyad is among the films that will screen at the festival. Click here to learn more and sign up.

Date: Saturday, June 20

Time: 4pm-9.45pm GST

Alexia Vassiliou with special guests 

The Cypriot singer will be celebrating this World Refugee Day with an online humanitarian concert. Vassiliou will be joined by Madeleine Peyroux, Henri Dikonue, Tarq Bowen and Lebanese composer and singer Christiane Karam, alongside refugee musicians and artists. The concert will be in English and Greek, featuring international songs.

Date: Saturday, June 20

Time: Midnight GST

A Walk in their Words

The Centre, a non-profit organisation in New York that supports refugees, has put on a project called A Walk in their Words. The project allows people, for a $30 (Dh110) donation, to listen to the stories of refugees describing the journey they have made to come to New York. Whether it's an actual walk, or a virtual one, the idea is to allow people to listen to the stories of others. You can even read some moving stories here.

Date: Saturday, June 20

Time: All day

Exodus Deja Vu

A 3D virtual exhibition will feature in a live discussion with Syrian photographer Issa Touma and Selin Unal from UNHCR Turkey. The exhibition will showcase the work of 12 renowned and award-winning photographers who have captured the journeys of refugees throughout their careers.

Date: Wednesday, June 24

Time: 6pm GST

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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