Feedback | 2 Billion Kilometers to Safety Campaign Launched
The United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launches the 2
Billion Kilometers to Safety campaign, a virtual movement where
Filipinos are encouraged to take a step in solidarity with the world’s
refugees.
By committing to
run, walk, or cycle, participants are contributing to the global goal of 2
billion kilometers, just as refugees do each year to reach
the first point of safety.
The target distance draws a parallel to the cumulative
kilometres walked by an estimated 68.5 million refugees and forcibly displaced
persons globally—a connection that will allow supporters, especially those
targeting to achieve their fitness goals, to walk in solidarity with some of
the most vulnerable people of our time.
Every Step Counts
Alin Nisa is among the 720,000 Rohingya who fled
persecution and violence in Myanmar last year. When her village was attacked,
she and her family was forced to escape in the dead of the night at 3:00 AM.
They had nothing
but the clothes on their back. With her husband, mother-in-law and two young
children, she crossed mountains and rivers. Along the journey, they walked
across water-logged paddy fields, in torrential rain, sometimes through the
night.
Finally, after a perilous journey
of 10 days and 102 kilometers, they arrived at the Kutupalong refugee camp in
Bangladesh.
Now safe in Bangladesh, the family
has built a shelter, using plastic sheeting and bamboo - all provided by UNHCR.
They also received a cooking kit, mats and blankets.
Add your
kilometers, lend your voice
If you've been inspired by Alin's
resilience and courage you can try walking, running or cycling 102 kilometers.
Alin walked that journey to safety, carrying her two children through many
nights.
To join 2
Billion Kilometers to Safety campaign, UNHCR encourages supporters to register
and add their kilometers directly onto the campaign website stepwithrefugees.org/en-ph/.
You can choose to
sync your fitness apps like Fitbit or Strava to automatically add your
kilometers, but you can also add them manually by setting a target up to a
maximum of 50 kilometers per entry.
You can also support by
encouraging others to join the cause and helping to raise funds. Aside from
reaching your own target distance, you can organize fundraising campaigns to
help the world’s refugees either through your very own school, sports clubs or
running communities.
For more information on the 2
Billion Kilometers to Safety campaign, visit stepwithrefugees.org/en-ph/.
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About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN
Refugee Agency, is committed to protecting people forced to flee their homes
because of conflict, persecution, and natural disasters. It is in the field in
130 countries. UNHCR has been operating in the Philippines for over three
decades. Its activities in the country are framed around the following pillars:
Protection and solutions for refugees and asylum seekers, Protection of
stateless people, and Protection of internally displaced persons. UNHCR
Philippines co-leads the Mindanao Protection Cluster in response to situations
of natural disasters and armed conflict.
