The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in partnership with the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), commemorated World Refugee Day 2026 here on Friday under the theme, ‘United for a Better Tomorrow: Partnerships for Solutions.’
Satchithananda Valan Michael, head of the field office, UNHCR, delivered the welcome address, while Areti Sianni, Chief of Mission, UNHCR India & Maldives, spoke about the need for solidarity and compassion towards refugee children. “Through the commitment of the State government and many dedicated partners, significant progress has been made here towards refugees accessing skills, education, building community support networks, enabling them to shape their own future,” she said.
Children who are residents of the Bhavanisagar, Pooluvapatti and Puzhal camps shared their experiences of learning coding without computers through workshops. R. Sadheesh, Director of Rehabilitation & NRT Welfare, listened to the concerns of the youth from the camps. “I will continue to work towards securing greater recognition and opportunities. There is still a long way to go, and we will strive to address these challenges,” he said.
The annual UNHCR - SICCI Partnership Report 2026 was released during the event. Actor and composer Hiphop Tamizha Adhi called for public awareness on issues faced by refugees in the State. “Residents from the camps who are well educated still don’t get the deserved employment opportunities because of the ‘refugee’ label. Through my organisation, we also plan to conduct talent scout in the camps and connect them with opportunities in the media industry as well,” he added.
G.S. Sameeran, Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), said society must collectively realise the pain of refugees and make them feel included. “It should not be a camp, it should be their home,” he said. “There should be a long-term vision for refugees at the state level, national as well as all over the word,” added Mr Sameeran.
Published - July 11, 2026 12:53 am IST