Urban refugees in the Philippines are often unseen and unheard. With limited access to social services, they are at risk of being left behind.
In observation of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2022, CFSI’s Urban Refugee Project Team visited refugees over 60 years old based in Metro Manila. The initiative, which provided vulnerable refugees with food assistance, was conducted in partnership with the Phil-Arab Alliance, a refugee-led support group established with CFSI support.
Beyond World Refugee Day and since 1981, CFSI has been supporting refugees and their families by helping ensure that their protection needs are addressed. This includes case management by CFSI social workers, supporting their process to naturalisation as Filipino citizens, providing emergency medical assistance, facilitating social support particularly for the disabled and elderly, assisting them to access livelihood and employment opportunities, and enabling their children’s education.
Supporting refugees should be done not only on World Refugee Day but every day. In spite of the challenges they face, refugees continue persevere, and sustained support is required to ensure their needs are addressed. In support of the Government of the Philippines and supported by UNHCR Philippines, CFSI implements the Urban Refugee Project to ensure the protection of refugees.