ThoughtGallery.org > The Global Refugee Crisis: A Public Forum

The Global Refugee Crisis: A Public Forum

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) presents a free, public panel focusing on the humanitarian needs and international policy surrounding the global refugee and migration crisis. Currently, there are more than 21 million refugees worldwide, to say nothing of the 40 million-plus internally-displaced people (IDPs) in the world, who together form the largest population of displaced people the planet has seen since World War II at 65.3 million.

Discussion will focus on the outcome of two summits on refugees and migrants, including the U.N. General Assembly special session on the global crisis and a similar meeting at the White House.

Using a combination of first-hand experience and top-level insight, the speakers will discuss some of the most pressing needs of refugees and IDPs, and explain why this is the time to focus attention on this important and pressing issue. A Q&A will follow the discussion.

Award-winning Journalist Ann Curry will moderate the panel, which includes:

Jason Cone, Executive Director, MSF-USA
MSF Executive Director in the U.S. since 2015, Mr. Cone has an extensive background in crisis management, advocacy and communications. He assumed leadership of MSF-USA following 11 years with the organization, the last six-and-a-half as communications director. In his former role, he oversaw emergency and advocacy communications on issues ranging from the West African Ebola outbreak, Haiti earthquake and cholera epidemic, to global childhood malnutrition and HIV/AIDS.

Hans Van de Weerd, Vice President, U.S. Programs, International Rescue Committee
Mr. Van de Weerd has been working in various positions on U.S. refugee integration since 2012. Prior to coming to the IRC, he was a General Director for MSF. As a humanitarian worker he has worked and lived in conflict zones in India, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Karen Koning AbuZayd, Special Advisor to the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants
Since 2011, Ms. AbuZayd has served as a Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Syria. Prior to that, she was Under Secretary-General as UNRWA Commissioner-General where she helped to oversee the education, health, social services and microenterprise programs for 4.1 million Palestinian refugees. Prior to joining UNRWA, Ms. AbuZayd worked for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for 19 years.

Admission is free. Registration is requested at www.forcedfromhome.com/cooperunion.

This event is part of Forced from Home, a free interactive exhibition designed to raise public awareness of the world’s displaced populations, presented by Doctors Without Borders.











When: Wed., Sep. 21, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) presents a free, public panel focusing on the humanitarian needs and international policy surrounding the global refugee and migration crisis. Currently, there are more than 21 million refugees worldwide, to say nothing of the 40 million-plus internally-displaced people (IDPs) in the world, who together form the largest population of displaced people the planet has seen since World War II at 65.3 million.

Discussion will focus on the outcome of two summits on refugees and migrants, including the U.N. General Assembly special session on the global crisis and a similar meeting at the White House.

Using a combination of first-hand experience and top-level insight, the speakers will discuss some of the most pressing needs of refugees and IDPs, and explain why this is the time to focus attention on this important and pressing issue. A Q&A will follow the discussion.

Award-winning Journalist Ann Curry will moderate the panel, which includes:

Jason Cone, Executive Director, MSF-USA
MSF Executive Director in the U.S. since 2015, Mr. Cone has an extensive background in crisis management, advocacy and communications. He assumed leadership of MSF-USA following 11 years with the organization, the last six-and-a-half as communications director. In his former role, he oversaw emergency and advocacy communications on issues ranging from the West African Ebola outbreak, Haiti earthquake and cholera epidemic, to global childhood malnutrition and HIV/AIDS.

Hans Van de Weerd, Vice President, U.S. Programs, International Rescue Committee
Mr. Van de Weerd has been working in various positions on U.S. refugee integration since 2012. Prior to coming to the IRC, he was a General Director for MSF. As a humanitarian worker he has worked and lived in conflict zones in India, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Karen Koning AbuZayd, Special Advisor to the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants
Since 2011, Ms. AbuZayd has served as a Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Syria. Prior to that, she was Under Secretary-General as UNRWA Commissioner-General where she helped to oversee the education, health, social services and microenterprise programs for 4.1 million Palestinian refugees. Prior to joining UNRWA, Ms. AbuZayd worked for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for 19 years.

Admission is free. Registration is requested at www.forcedfromhome.com/cooperunion.

This event is part of Forced from Home, a free interactive exhibition designed to raise public awareness of the world’s displaced populations, presented by Doctors Without Borders.

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