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Mrs. Bush's Remarks in Honor of World Refugee Day
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For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
June 20, 2008

Mrs. Bush's Remarks in Honor of World Refugee Day
East Garden

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9:36 A.M. EDT

MRS. BUSH: Thanks, everybody. Thank you all. Welcome here to the First
Lady's Garden. This is a beautiful day and a beautiful place, I think, for
us to observe World Refugee Day together. So many distinguished guests here
who have worked for years to help resettle refugees, and thank you all for
your work.

I want to acknowledge the Honorable Craig Johnstone, who is the U.N. Deputy
High Commissioner. Thank you very much, Craig, for joining us today.
Michael -- rather, Michel Gabaudan, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
Washington Regional Representative -- thank you, Michel. And then Secretary
John Negroponte, from the U.S. Department of State, and Diana, thank you
very much for joining us. And Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy, from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Chad Sweet, Chief of Staff
for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Distinguished guests -- and I know in our crowd are people who've worked
for years for refugees to do whatever you can to help them resettle or be
able to go home and live in safety.

Today, as we commemorate World Refugee Day, a U.N. survey reports that more
than 11 million people are living as refugees worldwide, and millions more
have been displaced by conflict or persecution. On World Refugee Day, the
international community recognizes the challenges faced by these men,
women, and children.

We recognize citizens from African nations like Somalia and Sudan, who were
forced to flee their homes by ongoing violence. We recognize families from
Iraq and Afghanistan, who were terrorized in their neighborhoods. And, on
only one day after Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday, where she's passed another
year under house arrest, we recognize activists and ethnic populations in
Burma, who were pushed into refugee camps by an oppressive military regime.

The United States contributes more assistance to refugee populations than
any other government. This year, we'll spend nearly $1.2 billion to
facilitate refugee resettlement and to provide food, shelter, and supplies
to those who fled their homes in search of safety.

I'm pleased to announce that this morning, President Bush approved a $32.8
million emergency funding to support unexpected and urgent needs, including
food, for refugees and conflict victims in Africa, the Middle East, Asia,
and the Western Hemisphere.

Many American families came to this country to escape repressive regimes
and build better futures. We honor this legacy by welcoming more refugees
annually than any other nation.

In the past 30 years, the United States has accepted some 2.7 million
refugees. And this year, we'll take in as many as 70,000 displaced men,
women, and children.

World Refugee Day is a chance to commemorate these humanitarian
commitments. And it's an opportunity to thank the men and women who've
worked to make these commitments possible. And many of you are here today.

The United States thanks our international partners -- especially the
Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees -- for your work to aid
refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced people around the
world.

Thanks also to the staff of the United States State Department, who
distribute the U.S. financial assistance and facilitate travel to America
for thousands of refugees; to staff from the United States Department of
Homeland Security, who travel the world to speak with refugees and to help
settle their claims; and to staff from the United States Department of
Health and Human Service, who help refugees build safe lives in their new
American hometowns.

We all know that much work remains to meet the needs of refugees, and to
deal with the violence and the persecution that causes the displacement in
the first place. We're improving our refugee programs, and we're looking
for the most effective ways to help those who seek resettlement in the
United States. And we're standing in support of human dignity and the rule
of law in countries from Burma to Zimbabwe.

Today, three successfully resettled refugees will encourage us to renew our
commitment to this cause.

Eh Moo Hoffman was born in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Her
parents had fled from Burmese soldiers who tortured, raped, and killed her
native Karen people. After more than 20 years living in danger, she and her
family were able to resettle in the United States last year.

Zeyad Abdel Okhowa fled Iraq with his family after his work with the U.S.
Embassy in Al Hillah put him in danger. Today, he works with the State
Department's Digital Outreach Team to help improve understanding between
Arab and Muslim communities and the United States.

Rose Mapendo's husband was executed, and she and her children were
imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She gave birth to twins
while she was in jail, and she struggled to keep them alive. Rose and her
children fled the Congo on an emergency evacuation flight in 2000. Today,
she's an American citizen and the spokesperson for "Mapendo International,"
a non-governmental organization that assists refugees.

Thanks to each of you for sharing your stories and for shining a light on
the needs of refugees around the world.

I'm now pleased to introduce our first speaker: Eh Moo Hoffman. (Applause.)

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MRS. BUSH: Those were three powerful stories. So thank you so much for
telling us your stories. And it does encourage us to redouble our efforts
and do whatever we can for refugees around the world.

Thank you all. Thanks to everyone here who works on these challenges that
face refugees every single day. Thank you for what you do and thank you all
for telling us your stories. And may God bless you all, and so good to see
you all today.

Thanks a lot. (Applause.)

END 10:13 A.M. EDT

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