Solidarity walk to mark World Refugee day in Tbilisi

Georgian and foreign officials will join a solidarity walk involving refugees in the country on Sunday to mark World Refugee Day in capital Tbilisi’s Botanical Garden, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said.

Organised jointly by the UN Refugee Agency in Georgia and the UN Resident Coordinator, the walk will show support and solidarity with millions of forcibly displaced people around the world.

Kemlin Furley, the UNHCR Representative in Georgia, Sabine Machl, the UN Resident Coordinator to the country, the UN country team, foreign ambassadors, international and non-governmental organisations and Georgian officials will all participate.

Photo: UNHCR Representation in Georgia

World Refugee Day will also be observed globally on Monday, honouring refugees and paying respect to the resilience and courage of those who have fled conflict or persecution and had to make new homes in foreign places. 

In comments on the day, UNHCR highlighted the importance of welcoming “newcomers”, those who have been forced to flee, bringing with them “their cultures, their unique experiences and their hope”, that could make “any community stronger and more vibrant”.

In Georgia, as in the rest of Europe, the dramatic situation in Ukraine has produced an outpouring of kindness and support for those fleeing this horrible war. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on the right to seek safety. Everyone deserves to be safe, wherever they come from. We stand with refugees, whoever they are”, said Furley.

Georgia’s capital Tbilisi has signed up to the global initiative Cities With Refugees, on the backdrop of the record number of 100 million refugees across the world.