Addis Ababa, June 20, 2026 — The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, has called for renewed global commitment to refugee protection, inclusion, and responsibility sharing as the world marks World Refugee Day 2026 and the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Dr. Workneh said the right to seek safety remains a fundamental human safeguard and stressed the need to uphold protections for people forced to flee conflict, persecution, and crises.
The statement comes as the IGAD region continues to host more than 5.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, alongside millions of internally displaced persons. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 118 million people worldwide remain forcibly displaced, with the number having doubled over the past decade. UNHCR estimates that seven out of ten refugees now live in protracted displacement situations.
Dr. Workneh noted that IGAD member states have continued to maintain open border policies and provide access to asylum and humanitarian assistance despite growing pressures. He said these efforts are supported by regional frameworks, including the Nairobi Declaration on Durable Solutions for Refugees, the Kampala Declaration on Refugee Livelihoods and Self Reliance, the Djibouti Declaration on Refugee Education, the Mombasa Declaration on Refugee Health, and the IGAD Policy Framework on Refugee Protection.
The statement emphasized that refugee protection extends beyond access to asylum and includes access to healthcare, education, documentation, and economic opportunities. Dr. Workneh highlighted ongoing efforts across the region to integrate refugees and host communities into national systems, particularly in health and education sectors.
He also underscored the importance of economic inclusion, stating that enabling refugees to work, establish businesses, and participate in local economies contributes to their safety and self reliance. The IGAD chief called on the private sector, development finance institutions, and investors to increase engagement in displacement affected areas through investments, job creation, financial inclusion, and infrastructure development.
At the same time, Dr. Workneh expressed concern over declining humanitarian funding amid record levels of global displacement. He said reduced funding has led to cuts in food assistance, shelter, education, healthcare, and protection services across the region.
He called for predictable multi year financing, stronger international responsibility sharing under the Global Compact on Refugees, and greater emphasis on development oriented approaches that integrate refugees into national systems while supporting host communities.
The statement also highlighted IGAD’s broader approach to displacement, including efforts to address climate related mobility, support cross border pastoralist communities, and strengthen resilience in fragile contexts. It further stressed the importance of gender responsive approaches to ensure that women and girls are protected and included in displacement responses.
Dr. Workneh reiterated IGAD’s solidarity with the people of Sudan, describing the situation as the world’s largest displacement crisis. Millions have been displaced within Sudan, while millions more have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the conflict began.
He said ensuring access to safety for displaced Sudanese remains a shared regional and international responsibility and reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to supporting peaceful and inclusive political solutions that would enable voluntary return in safety and dignity.
As IGAD marks its 40th anniversary and looks ahead to its Golden Jubilee, Dr. Workneh said the organization remains committed to advancing protection, opportunity, and dignity for displaced populations. He called on governments, international partners, and other stakeholders to uphold the principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention and work toward lasting solutions to displacement.
“Seventy five years on, the promise of 1951 endures only if each generation renews it,” the statement said, emphasizing the need for continued solidarity with refugees and host communities across the region and beyond.
