Source: Republic of Turkey
Following is the message by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on World Refugee Day:
2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees as well as the 25th anniversary of the World Refugee Day.
As we have always done throughout our history, Türkiye stands by displaced people due to wars and conflicts today as well. We consider it to be a humanitarian responsibility that regardless of their races, languages, religions or faiths, all, who are forced to leave their homelands, have the right to live a dignified and safe life.
With this understanding, we host over three million people, who have taken shelter in our country because of wars and crises in various parts of the world, Syria in particular, and extend a helping hand to anyone in need, no matter where they are.
The massacre of tens of thousands of civilians, including women, children and the elderly, and the displacement of millions of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon as a result of Israel’s unlawful and inhumane attacks have once again laid bare the importance of the preservation of the international humanitarian law.
In this regard, Türkiye, which strongly supports the Palestinian people’s fight for freedom and justice, and which spearheads the humanitarian relief efforts for Gaza, will continue to defend the rights of Palestinian refugees, and make all kinds of contributions within its means to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is exposed to severe oppression and intimidation policies of the Israeli government.
Meanwhile, that the number of forcibly displaced people who need international protection has exceeded 120 million as of 2026 demonstrates that the international community ignores the underlying causes of migration, and that the responsibilities regarding refugees are not fairly shared. Against this increasingly worsening situation, we reiterate our call for solidarity at global level and a fair share of responsibilities and burdens.
Also, we witness that xenophobia, hate speech and racist approaches against refugees and immigrants in different parts of the world are on the rise, and deplore and condemn such inhumane practices, no matter who do them.
With our approach based on human dignity, we as Türkiye will continue to stand by people in need of international protection, and to strengthen global solidarity.
With these thoughts, I wish that the World Refugee Day will lead to the increasing of international sensitivity on the problems of refugees struggling for their lives and dignity under harsh conditions all across the world.