World Refugee Day - resettled refugees tell their stories

Ana, a Ukrainian woman who lived in a refugee camp in Austria during World War Two

To commemorate World Refugee Day, the International Catholic Migration Commission is launching a public call to share messages and stories of support and solidarity towards refugees worldwide.

With more than 60 million people fleeing violence, conflicts or persecutions, a lack of legal channels to allow people to migrate safely, and insufficient support for successful integration of refugees into host countries, there is an urgent need to show solidarity towards refugees and to share messages of hope and mercy with them.

During this Holy Year of Mercy and in response to Pope Francis' invitation to open our hearts and our doors to the people in need, ICMC already called on people to share 'Hands of Mercy': messages of hope and mercy written on hands in support of migrants worldwide. Between January and June 2016, many people around the world shared photos of their hands with powerful messages. These testimonies came in from Canada, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Switzerland, the United States of America, and Turkey.

In observance of this World Refugee Day 2016, ICMC is now sharing stories of resettled refugees as a witness to their strength and determination despite the hardship they have endured and as an encouragement to maintain faith and hope for those still stranded or awaiting resettlement in transit countries. Through the story of an American family, which hosted over 50 refugee families fleeing war in Vietnam, ICMC is also calling attention to the benefits refugees brought to their host communities during the 1970's and 1980's.

ICMC believes that, even today, it is possible to truly change the lives of many people forced to flee by welcoming the stranger and providing integration opportunities for refugees.

Watch the video, Hands of Mercy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk_Bksx6YyI

Read the stories on our website: Resettled refugees and hosts share their stories of hope: www.icmc.net/newsroom/news-and-statements/world-refugee-day-2016-resettled-refugees-share-stories-of-hope