Using technological advances and popular Internet tools, the United Nations Refugee Agency is bringing a live video stream of real refugee camps from all over the world to participants of this year’s World Refugee Day.
In hopes of spreading awareness and education, the site hosting the live footage also has a live chat available, as well as social networking tools to share the event and its message. Other pre-recorded videos, some featuring U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, are also available.
There are also texting options for users taking part, including an opportunity to make a $5 donation using a cell phone.
From 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time, site visitors will be able to see a glimpse into the world of refugees receiving aid in Chad, Colombia, Pakistan and Iraq.
The camp in Djabal, Chad is the temporary home to more than 250,000 people displaced from the genocide in Darfur.
“Whether it be from Darfur, Myanmar or the Swat Valley, or some as yet unknown crisis, mass migrations will be a feature of our future. We must look beyond the simple numbers and instead at the individual,” says Jolie, touching on this year’s theme, “Real People, Real Needs.”
Indeed, while the word “refugee” may sound so foreign, any one of us could become one at a moment’s notice; just ask any survivor of Hurricane Katrina. The U.N. estimates that there are over 40 million refugees displaced from their homes right now, 80% of whom are in developing countries.
To learn more or to participate in today’s extraordinary event of global solidarity, click here.
Tags: angelina jolie, chad, colombia, darfur, genocide, hurricane katrina, Iraq, pakistan, peace, refugees, solidarity, united nations, world refugee day