Refugees On Stamps

The days of 13-14th February, 1945, were an absolute horror in the old city of Dresden. The city, which was full to overflowing with refugees from regions further east, was bombed to oblivion. The souvenir sheet, issued by the Stamperija Agency for the Maldives, may well have been produced for souvenir hunters, and most likely not for use on a letter or for philatelists. A streetcar, much less people, could not have been out and about that close to the flames. The fires took the oxygen out of the air and created a storm. Death toll estimates range from 26-30,000. Note Church of our Lady which remained standing for a few days.

another famous refugee from Dresden. Sistine Madonna and a thousand more paintings were saved from flooding in abandoned mines near Dresden. The paintings were taken to the USSR, restored, in 1955 they were shown at an exhibition in Moscow and returned to Dresden.

Another stamp featuring the bombing of Dresden, February 14, 1945. In the background soldiers at the fountain on the old market square placing bodies on huge pyre because they could not be buried properly. An uncounted number of children became refugees/orphans. Part of an old postcard shows the market square about 1900.

(Hello, Alexey, When I visited Dresden last time, I sat for a long time admiring this beautiful large painting. I didn't know it had been rescued by Russians! K.)

An earthquake occurring on September 1, 1962 in the area of Buin Zahra, Qazvin Province, Iran had a Richter magnitude of 7.1, and resulted in 12,225 fatalities. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting a woman and her children fleeing the massive destruction caused by the earthquake, printed by lithography, and issued by Iran on February 4, 1963 to benefit victims of the disaster, Scott No. B36.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting a refugee family, die engraved by Charles Hervé, printed by lithography, and issued for use in French Colonies in 1943 to benefit works of "French Solidarity," Scott No. B7. Bonus: Doll.

- nethryk

"A refugee, generally speaking, is a displaced person who has been forced to cross national boundaries and who cannot return home safely. Such a person may be called an asylum seeker until granted refugee status by the contracting state or the UNHCR if they formally make a claim for asylum." UN refugee convention. Croatian stamp showing new housing for refugees.

Lebanon
7th April 1960
World Refugee Year

Saudi Arabia
30th October 1960
World Refugee Year




Refugee camp on map of Palestine

Kuwait
5th June 1968
20th Anniv of Declaration of Human Rights




Arab refugees, UN emblem of Human Rights

Kuwait
24th October 1968
International Day of the UN, Palestine Day




Children and refugee camp, UN HQ in New York with map of Palestine, UN emblem

Kuwait
16th December 1969
Palestinian Refugees International Week




Refugee group

Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)
12th December 1966
21st Anniv of United Nations Day and Refugee Week

Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)
20th May 1968
Red Crescent Refugees Fund




semi-postal showing refugee family.
Particularly poignant given the current situation in Syria, and that
the designer has shown the man - presumably the father of the two
children - holding on to the sleeve of one of the children with his teeth.

Syria (United Arab Republic)
7th April 1960
World Refugee Year




Mother, child and map of Palestine.

Lebanon
13th October 1997
First Anniversary of Shelling of Cana Refugee Camp



The stamp shows a commemorative medallion.

(This stamp with gold fleuron overprint is the priciest of Lebanon stamps to obtain)