Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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June 20, 2007

UNHCR Says Countries Closing Doors to Refugees
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17E236A:A6F02AD83191E160A92747B14F174C4A9574F7DCC14957C0 New UN Refugee
Agency report shows number of refugees worldwide rose by 14 percent
last year In marking this year's observance of World Refugee Day, the
U.N. refugee agency is warning more countries are closing their doors
to refugees because of growing intolerance and a fear of terrorism. 
The agency says genuine asylum seekers are being turned away and
refused a safe haven at a time when an increasing number of people are
fleeing violence, persecution and oppression.  Lisa Schlein reports
for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.

The U.N. refugee agency says a growing number of countries around the
world are hardening their attitudes toward refugees and refusing to
grant them asylum.  This is mainly occurring in the industrialized
world.  But, is also becoming a problem in some developing countries.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler says intolerance, xenophobia or fear
of foreigners and racism is on the increase.  He says many governments
confuse asylum seekers, who are fleeing for their lives, with economic
migrants, who are in search of a better future.







Sudanese refugees (File photo)"What is important to remember is that
the vast majority of refugees are people who have been forced from
their homes by violence," Spindler said. "If we look at the main
countries of origin of refugees, these are Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan,
Burundi, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  These are all
countries that have undergone conflicts recently or are in the middle
of a conflict.  So, the impression that refugees are somehow ogres or
people who are trying to take advantage of our generosity is
completely wrong.  Most people are fleeing desperate situations in
which their life is at risk." 

Spindler says countries in North America and Europe are under the
false impression they are hosting huge numbers of refugees.  He says
the vast majority is in poor countries.

A new report shows the number of refugees rose by 14 percent last year
to nearly 10 million.  And, it finds 24.5 million people have been
uprooted by conflict inside their own countries. 

Despite this dismal picture, Spindler says there are pockets of hope. 
He says last year, more than 700,000 refugees returned home after
years of living in exile.  He says it is this message of hope High
Commissioner Antonio Guterres wants to get across on this World
Refugee Day. 







Iraqi children drink water from taps at a refugee camp for internally
displaced people outside Najaf, Iraq, 16 June 2007 "The reason why the
High Commissioner is in south Sudan is to remind the world that
despite the horrors of Darfur, the critical situation in Iraq, and
displacement in many other parts of the world, there is still hope,"
Spindler said. "And, people are returning to countries that have been
devastated by years of conflict." 

Refugee spokesman Spindler notes it is one thing to get the refugees
home.  It is quite another to keep them home.  He says it is important
that the international community support post-conflict reconstruction
so these returns are sustainable and durable.

He says it would be tragic to have a return to conflict and find that
people, once again, are on the move.