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42 million people uprooted in 2008, says UN report

Tue, 06/16/2009 - 21:06 by Inderjit Singh

Geneva, June 16 Some 42 million people were displaced in 2008, having been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said Tuesday.

The overwhelming majority, some 26 million, were displaced within their own countries, while about 16 million became refugees and asylum seekers who crossed international borders.

Some 80 percent of all refugees lived in the developing world.

Pakistan topped the list of host countries with 1.8 million refugees, followed by Syria which had 1.1 million and Iran with 980,000.

Germany led in Europe, hosting 582,700 refugees.

Jolie makes emotional appeal for refugees

Tue, 06/16/2009 - 13:11 by preet_20

London, June 16: Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is continuing her fight for refugees by filming a video urging the world to recognise the plight of homeless people.

The actress, who serves as a refugees goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, has long battled to help millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of war or persecution, reported imdb.com.

She visited a refugee centre in northern Thailand in February and her experiences led her to make an emotive appeal urging Thai officials to free thousands of displaced Burmese citizens, who have been held in camps for up to 20 years.

Now the 34-year-old has appeared in a video to promote World Refugee Day, June 20.