AIC Luncheon with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi

The October AIC Luncheon had the great pleasure to hear Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, outline the challenges and opportunities for the refugee question in a complex world. The delicious lunch was held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel and was graciously hosted by IKEA whom we learned is the largest private sector partner for the UNHCR. Mr. Grandi explained that the refugee crisis, which has now reached 65 million displaced persons, is the result of four principle failures. These are the failure of making peace, of providing aid, of providing alternatives and of the lack of asylum and solidarity. Mr. Grandi summed it up by saying “The most important solution for the refugee crisis is to resolve the conflicts which is not easy because it is political. Refugees flee war and terror but they are not losers and need to be resettled with the dignity they deserve.”