Oromo Refugees Evening in Cairo Highlights the Unshakeable Bond between Egypt and the Oromo Nation
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
June 28, 2010
I therefore republish the Invitation to the event, and the related press release which was issued a few days ago.
Invitation
World Refugee Day Event
We, the Oromo Sons Association for Development, are very pleased to invite you to be with us on the celebration of World Refugee Day.
We would like to thank you for your patronage by inviting you to this World Refugee Day Extravaganza, which will be held on this Sunday (June 20, 2010), 5 to 8 pm at the African Society (5, Ahmed Heshmat Street, Zamalek).
Program
Opening ceremony according to Oromo traditional praying
Opening speech: by the President of the Association
Welcoming our Guests = Mr. Muhammad Abdulkader
Words from UNHCR delegate
Exhibition of popular Oromo Food and Dresses
Lunch (Buffet)
Concerts (folk dance + Drama ......)
End of the Ceremony
We look forward to welcoming you at our event!
The Oromo Sons Association for Development
Reg. No 7832/2010
11, Muh. Mubarak St.
Hadayeq al Maadi, Cairo
The Oromo Sons Association for Development – Press Release
World Refugee Day Event
The Sunday event held on the occasion of the World Refugee Day is still fresh in our minds; we would like to brief you about the speeches given to the participants, and at the same time, thank you for your kind support.
The Opening Ceremony was performed according to the traditional Oromo ritual which involves a solemn prayer in Afaan Oromo (language); one of the Oromo elders, who currently reside in Cairo as refugee, opened the ceremony, praying for peace for Oromo Nation, peace for United Nations, peace for Cultural Animal (as is traditionally designated the human being in the Oromo Culture) and peace for all the other animal beings of the world.
The Opening Speech was given by the President of the Oromo Sons for Development Association, who is also the President of the Oromo Community in Cairo, Mr. Kamel Mustafa. He began his speech, welcoming the honorable guests who took part in the event along with the Cairo refugee community, notably His Excellency, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Ghafar, Ambassador of South Africa and the UNHCR delegates.
Mr. Kamel Mustafa expressed his happiness for the enthusiastic participation which demonstrates a great interest for the World Refugee Day itself, as this day is of great interest for him and every refugee worldwide. For many of the refugees who spend the rest of the year through hardships and grievousness, this is the only day they rejoice with.
Mr. Kamel Mustafa pointed out that from year to year the number of the Oromo refugees increases. In this regard, Mr. Kamel Mustafa added that the CBO committee works hard to effectively support the newcomers, and raise awareness concerning access centers among the uninformed and needy. He ended his speech, expressing his appreciation for the solidarity, concord and love among the Cairo-based Oromo refugee community.
Furthermore, the president urged the humanitarian organization to better focus on (and understand) the problems of the refugee community, finding effective and viable solutions. Finally, Mr. Kamel Mustafa thanked the African Association which hosts the Cairo-based Oromo community, standing by them and offering space for the various events the Cairo Oromos organize. He then closed his speech, announcing the good news that the Oromo Sons for Development Association is by now a fully registered and accredited NGO.
Next to speak was the Ambassador of South Africa, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Ghafar who warmly welcomed the participants, emphasizing that the day was effectively theirs ad that they should feel as if they were in their home.
The South African ambassador went on sharing with the attendees his personal experience as a refugee. He resolutely minimized the negative connotation associated with the word ´refugee´, saying that a refugee "is not the end of the world". The status of refugee can very well be considered as an opportunity offering great experience that people can later, after their return to their homeland, share with their compatriots, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Ghafar specified.
Optimistic and enthusiastic, the South African conveyed a strong feeling of hope to the attendees who – in their outright majority – were African refugees, thus exemplifying his country which is hosting the 19th World Foot Ball championship, and portraying an augur future for Africa. At the end, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Ghafar ensured the refugee community that, as it happened with South Africa, there will be freedom one day for all, and the national sovereignty, the historical identity and the cultural particularities will be respected by all.
The UNHCR delegate, Dr. Ashraf, was the next to speak. He first expressed his thankfulness to the African Society for hosting the event and thanked the Ambassador of South Africa for his wholehearted support. Dr. Ashraf reported that, as of end 2009, the number of refugees worldwide amounted to 43.3 million people; and more specifically, 27 million among them are internally displaced populations.
Dr. Ashraf added that, of 50.2 million asylum seekers only half have UNHCR refugee mandate. The delegate expanded further on several troublesome countries that produce great numbers of refugees, and mentioned in this regard the dire consequences of the Liberian crisis. He the referred to the importance of the Women Movement in organizing a film festival on the occasion of the World Refugee Day – an event that took place a few days ago.
Terminating his speech, Dr. Ashraf underscored the role played by Egypt in helping people of various backgrounds who had had a very traumatic experience in terms of oppression, tyranny and persecution prior to their migration, and in assuaging the fear of refugees without UNHCR refugee mandate. Dr. Ashraf urged therefore the refugee community, particularly those without papers, to fearlessly pay a visit to the Cairo UNHCR office, and with clear voice to ask the UNHCR authorities to help them in finding the best durable solution for each and every one of them.
Among the last to speak were the Africa Students Union representative, and Mr. Abdulkadir Gumi from the Cairo-based Oromo Refugee Community, who urged the UNHCR to facilitate the approach of the refugees without papers, and to accordingly modify their procedures. The cases of some Oromo natives whose files were closed and others, who were in the past suddenly deported with their blue cards, were brought to attention of the attendees by Mr. Abdulkadir Gumi, who notified that the existing limit of three referral countries could not anymore be considered as effective.
Note
Picture: Oromo dance in Cairo
Credit: Oromo Sons Association for Development, Cairo
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