Addis Ababa, 20 June 2018: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission joins all concerned stakeholders around the world to mark the Africa Refugee Day on 20 June 2018. He is concerned that we commemorate this day this year at a time of unprecedented level of forced displacement, irregular migration and protracted humanitarian crises. A total of 6.2 million refugees and asylum seekers in Africa have sought protection outside of their countries, while more than 12 million people are internally displaced. In these situations, it is often the most vulnerable such as women, children, the elderly, people with disability and minority groups who face immense risks. Organized under the theme “The World We Want: Inclusion, Empowerment and Access to Services for Refugees,” this year’s Africa Refugee Day will highlight the importance of inclusion of refugees and solutions to their plight through empowerment and access.