Smith also recorded a video interviewing a refugee as part of the social media video campaign #RefugeesWelcome

"We are facing unprecedented challenges as record numbers of people flee their homes due to conflict, hunger, and persecution around the world. On World Refugee Day, we renew our commitment to support refugees and their families in their search for safety, dignity, and opportunity.  And I am proud to count among the talented men and women of USAID those who have themselves been refugees.

I am proud of USAID's global efforts to provide life-saving assistance and expand educational and economic opportunities for refugees and the communities that host them. Our work includes educating internally displaced children like Nyaradio Gatkuoth of South Sudan, who aspires to become a journalist and is determined to continue her studies in a United Nations (UN) compound.  USAID is also the largest provider of food and other assistance to Syrian refugees, supporting electronic food vouchers that give dignity and choice to Syrian families and boost the economies of the communities that host them.

And last month, we announced a $20 million contribution to the UN's "Education Cannot Wait: a Fund for Education in Emergencies" to increase safe and quality education so that all children have the opportunity to learn even amid protracted emergency situations.

Faced with chronic, complex emergencies, we have a moral and national security imperative to meet escalating needs and provide a better future for the most vulnerable, including refugees.  We must invest in helping communities mitigate the climate and conflict risks they face if we are to address the drivers of extreme poverty and displacement.  We are committed to working with local partners, governments, and the business community to work towards sustainable solutions to address the challenges ahead."

#RefugeesWelcome Campaign

p>To mark World Refugee Day, Administrator Smith took part in #RefugeesWelcome, a State Department social media video campaign where US Government officials, celebrities, nonprofit, and business leaders are recording and posting videos interviewing refugees about their experiences.

Administrator Smith sat down with David Yang, who came to the United States as a refugee from China and serves as Deputy Assistant Administrator in USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA), to talk about his family's journey to the U.S. and how it inspired his career promoting human rights around the world. You can view their interview here.