On this day, World Refugee Day, when we officially recognize the large global humanitarian tragedy playing out before us, there is a ray of light on which to rest our hopes.
In a follow-up story to the one it posted yesterday focusing on the worldwide plight of refugees, CNN today is reporting that "Canada overtook the United States as the world's leading host of formally resettled refugees in 2018, according to statistics compiled by the United Nations."
This news is not held up in an effort to let the U.S. off the hook for doing its fair share, but more in the hopes of holding up an example in which a nation is actively engaging in helping to care for those who are being chased out of their home nations and persecuted.
CNN reports that the findings were "part of the UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) annual Global Trends Report, which found that more than 70 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to violence or persecution. The UNHCR said that 92,400 refugees were formally resettled to 25 countries, according to official government statistics provided to the agency. Canada accepted 28,100, more than any other nation, while the United States resettled the second-most with 22,900.The US has a population of about 329 million. About 37 million people call Canada home."
So, the good news is that our neighbor to the north, Canada, is providing an example as a country willing to lead in the effort to resettle and care for the world's persecuted people. On this day -- World Refugee Day 2019 -- let's pray that example inspires other nations, with even greater means to step up to the challenge.
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