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Alexander Betts speaks at UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants side event on self-reliance

Professor Alexander Betts, Director of the Refugee Studies Centre at ODID, spoke Monday at a side event of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, which aims to facilitate a more humane and coordinated approach to large movements of refugees and migrants, and to develop a blueprint for a better international response.

The summit brings together heads of state and government, ministers, and leaders from the UN system, civil society, private sector, and international organisations.

Professor Betts spoke at a side event on Supporting Greater Dignity and Protection: Enhancing Self-Reliance in Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Refugee Situations, attended by, amongst others, Ban Ki-moon (Secretary-General of the United Nations), Filippo Grandi (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), and ministers from Denmark, Jordan, and Uganda.

In his talk, Professor Betts emphasised the importance of helping refugees to help themselves, so that they can contribute to host societies and be better equipped to contribute to the reconstruction of their countries of origin when they are able to go home.

He also outlined research conducted by the Refugee Studies Centre that has explored some of the factors that create an enabling environment within which both refugees and host communities can thrive.

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