On June 20th, the international community marked the eighth annual World Refugee Day, acknowledging the suffering of the millions of people driven from their homes by war, persecution, economic dislocation and environmental pressures. The commitment by the United States to protect and aid refugees is a deep and abiding one, part of the nation’s history and at the core of its values.

The United Nations, which established the event in 2000, set this year’s focus on refugee protection. Nations around the world stepped up efforts to provide access to basic life sustaining aid, including shelter, food, water, sanitation, health and nutrition. The demand is great and more needs to be done.

The U.S. is proud to be the leading donor of refugee assistance, providing more than a billion dollars a year to support multilateral efforts to help alleviate the suffering of not only refugees, but also internally displaced people and other victims of conflict.

It has also resettled more refugees than all nations of the world combined, and in their presence they have made great contributions throughout the country with their talents, hard work and creativity.