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Reinickendorf: Mayor takes stock of World Refugee Day 2025
On World Refugee Day 2025, the district mayor of Reinickendorf attended an event to support refugees.
Reinickendorf: Mayor takes stock of World Refugee Day 2025
On June 21st, as part of World Refugee Day, Reinickendorf's district mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner (CDU) addressed the emergency situation of refugees in an intercultural center run by BKK LINDE. The event was organized by the sports and cultural association Salam e.V. and other actors such as BENN Wittenau Süd. It became clear that millions of people worldwide have to leave their homes due to war, persecution and hardship, where the vulnerable group of people was given a voice. The mayor positioned Reinickendorf as a place of arrival, hope and new beginnings, which illuminates the local integration burden.
On this occasion, Demirbüken-Wegner spoke out clearly in favor of an attitude of openness, participation and respect. She explained that integration begins primarily with personal encounters - a guiding principle that became tangible during the event.
The global refugee numbers
A deeper look at the global situation shows that the number of refugees and internally displaced people has increased from 45 million to an alarming 123.2 million since 2012. This means that by 2024, one in 65 people worldwide would be a refugee. The number of asylum seekers has almost doubled and now stands at around 8.4 million. Paying particular attention to the UNHCR data, which takes into account not only refugees, but also stateless persons and other vulnerable groups – a requirement under the Geneva Refugee Convention.
The 2024 reports also show that 66 percent of all refugees are in so-called “persistent displacement situations” and 67 percent live close to their home country. Low- and middle-income countries in particular accept the largest proportion of refugees. Germany, with almost 2.7 million refugees admitted, has 43 percent from Ukraine.
The numbers from Ukraine and beyond
The situation in Ukraine is particularly worrying. Since the invasion began in 2022, a total of 3.6 million people have already been displaced within the country. UNHCR recorded the highest number of returnees in over 20 years last year, yet the situation remains tense, highlighting the immediate need for assistance.
2024 also saw the highest refugee death toll in years, with 8,938 deaths, including 2,452 people on the Mediterranean, although this represents a decline of over 20 percent compared to the previous year.
In a shocking trend, conflicts such as the civil war in Sudan since April 2023 are leading to enormous migration movements. As of April 2025, 11.3 million people were displaced within the country, while almost 4 million fled the country. This example powerfully shows how tragic violence and persecution directly affects the lives of millions of people.
Taken together, UNHCR's events and reports underscore the urgency of effective support and integration for refugees, who often arrive in new countries with hopes and concerns. Reinickendorf offers itself as a positive example of how open encounters and respectful reception can contribute to integration.