UNHCR in the Baltic and Nordic Countries Marks the World Refugee Day 2011

Monday morning at the Stockholm Central Station. Commuters on their way to work. Families back from a visit to grandma up north. Italian tourists looking for a luggage locker. All on the move, but for everyday reasons. Not because of conflict and war, not as a result of human rights abuses.

In the middle of this hustle and bustle – an impressive white tent with mattresses, blankets, pots and pans inside. A pair of flip-flops outside, and a baby jacket hanging to dry. A group of theatre students sharing refugee stories to those who dare venture inside. Around the family tent, cards alluding more tents. Tv-screens depicting displaced populations in every corner of the world, European refugee portraits, Angelina Jolie and “Do 1 Thing” slogans. Cafes and shops nearby handed out food coupons to its customers, who traded these for a refuee registration bracelet and a piece of emergency protein biscuit.

It may be Monday for most, but for us it is above all World Refugee Day. Monday the 20^th of June and the UNHCR turned the Stockholm’s Central station into a refugee camp.

-  That 43.7 million persons are displaced globally as a result of war, conflict and human rights abuses is of course no cause for celebration. World Refugee Day is about recognising the courage and strength of refugees, many stuck in exile for years without prospects of returning home any time soon, said Hanne Mathisen, spokesperson for UNHCR in the Baltic and Nordic countries.

The carrying idea of the newly launched World Refugee Day campaign is that even one refugee is one too many, with the aim to engage public to do one thing for refugees. One of the various activities arranged by UNHCR to interest the Swedish public and bypassing travellers was to reply questions such as “what would you take with you if you had to flee” and “where would you go”.

The replies were very thought-provoking and provided some insight into the thoughts of people about fleeing and being a refugee. Many had chosen neighbouring countries such as Finland or Norway as destination, and on top of the list of things to bring were a passport and family members. Unfortunately this is not the reality for all refugees as many have to flee their homes without any type of identification, sometimes even leaving the loved ones behind.

The virtual refugee camp attracted a large public as well as national and local media. NGO and Corporate partners also played a part when the Ericsson-supported Goodwill Ambassador for Danish NGO ‘Refugees United’, actor Mads Mikkelsen paid a visit .The one thing that Mikkelsen would take with him if he had to flee would be his family, he said, but he also emphasised the fact that one thing for the refugees to do is to get registered, so that everyone who needs help, can receive it. Mikkelsen furthermore talked about the importance of joining hands and reaching out to as many people as possible with the aim of bettering the situation for the world’s refugees, and underlined the meaningfulness of cooperation of organizations, such as the one between UNHCR and Refugees United.

To support World Refugee Day, Swedish company Ericsson lit-up the landmark concert and sports hall Globen in UN blue on Monday evening. Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility for Ericsson, described the cooperation as an opportunity to make use of the newest technology for a good cause. Furthermore she said that this is just a beginning of a partnership, and has high hopes it can be scaled up in the future.

- With the event at the Stockholm Central station we aimed to inform and engage the bypassing travellers - to inspire them to reflect on what it would be like to be in the shoes of refugees. Now let’s see if they will at least Do 1 thing”, said Hanne Mathisen, spokesperson for UNHCR in the Baltic and Nordic countries.

Eight o’clock in the evening and UNHCR staff and a great group of volunteers start packing up. There wasn’t a refugee crisis in Stockholm after all. But the spirit of solidarity was all around.

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