Most refugees wish only to return home, according to the senior liaison officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ireland speaking in advance of World Refugee Day, which was celebrated yesterday.
Ireland has provided a home to over 6,000 refugees, according to Ms Pia Prutz Phiri, who said our support must be based on the understanding that refugees are true survivors, who given the chance can make valuable contributions to our communities. Integration, she said was the key to helping refugees call Ireland "home".
"Unlike migrants in general, refugees often never have the time to prepare their flight. More often that not refugees arrive in their countries of asylum with little more than their clothes on their back. For most refugees their only wish is to return home," she added.
Ms Prutz Phiri was speaking at a reception in Dublin on Friday to celebrate World Refugee Day, the theme of which is "A Place to Call Home". At the event refugees who have started new lives in the Republic told their stories.
A schooling by the Christian Brothers prompted journalist Itayi Viriri to choose Ireland when he had to flee Zimbabwe in 2002. Being well versed in Irish history as well as being able to secure work has greatly helped him in building a life in Ireland, he said.
Mr Raoof Moradi (29), from Iran spoke of the 22 years he spent in a camp following the destruction of his village on the Iraq-Iran border by the Iraqi forces. Mr Moradi and his family arrived in Ireland in July 2002 and have been living in Carrick-on-Shannon.
"My life began when I arrived in Ireland. Before that I had no freedom. It was worse than a jail. Ireland is now my home. It is where I feel comfortable, safe and happy. I didn't have a glimmer of hope in Iraq, now I have a bright future in Ireland."
At the event Sister Phil Sinnott, of the Sacred Heart Order, who has worked with refugees for over 25 years, was presented with a thank you certificate from Mr Ruud Lubbers, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.