Keep borders open, UNHCR tells neighbours of Afghanistan
Geneva/UNI: The UN refugee agency has called on countries neighbouring Afghanistan to keep their borders open in light of the evolving crisis in the South Asian nation.
Afghanistan: 270,000 newly displaced this year, warns UNHCR
New York: The worsening security situation across Afghanistan in the wake of foreign troop withdrawal and Taliban advances, has forced an estimated 270,000 from their homes since January, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday, bringing the total internally displaced to more than 3.5 million.
Forced displacement at record level, despite COVID shutdowns: UNHCR
New York: The number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution, and human rights violations, rose last year to nearly 82.4 million people, a further four percent increase on top of the already record-high of 79.5 million, recorded at the end of 2019.
UNHCR asks Ethiopia for urgent access to 96,000 Eritreans cut off without food
New York: The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, appealed to Ethiopia on Tuesday for urgent access to 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, saying the month-long conflict in Tigray had left them without vital supplies.
UN agencies join forces to protect forcibly displaced during pandemic
To strengthen and advance public health services for millions of forcibly displaced people globally, two United Nations signed an agreement on Thursday to better protect some 70 million from COVID-19.
Civilians ‘must not be a target’, urges UNHCR, following military escalation in northern Syria
New York: The scale-up in military operations in north-east Syria has forced tens of thousands of civilians to seek safety, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Thursday, one day after Turkey launched airstrikes and a ground offensive across the border.
'Tenacious' Kyrgyz lawyer and statelessness champion, wins prestigious UNHCR prize
New York: A rights lawyer who took to horseback to help more than 10,000 stateless people gain nationality in Kyrgystan after the break-up of the Soviet Union, has been awarded the UN refugee agency’s prestigious 2019 Nansen Refugee Award.
Athens urged to fast track asylum seekers amid island shelters crisis – UNHCR
New York: A spike in the number of refugees reaching Greek island reception centres is likely to worsen the situation in already “dangerously overcrowded” facilities there, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday.
More than half of world’s refugee children ‘do not get an education’, warns UNHCR
New York, Aug 31 (IBNS): Refugee children in their millions are missing out on an education, the UN said on Friday, in an appeal to host countries to back more inclusive policies to prevent them from “languishing” in camps for years and losing hope.
UN refugee chief impressed with Brazil’s ‘exemplary’ response to plight of fleeing Venezuelans
New York, Aug 20 (IBNS): While praising the “efficient, coordinated, humane and innovative response” by Brazil on behalf of fleeing Venezuelans, the UN refugee chief has said that the sheer number of those on the run is proving to be a major challenge, calling for greater international support.
Scores of Rohingya refugee shelters in Bangladesh destroyed by flooding
New York, July 6 (IBNS): Heavy monsoon rains in Bangladesh have drenched the Cox’s Bazar settlement, home to more than 900,000 Rohingya refugees, destroying some 273 shelters, and injuring 11 people, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. The huge refugee camp has been hit by three days of non-stop rain, and more heavy downpours are expected throughout next week, with four months of the monsoon season still to go.
1.4 million refugees set to need urgent resettlement in 2020: UNHCR
New York, July 2 (IBNS): More than 1.4 million displaced people in over 60 refugee hosting countries will need resettlement next year, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday, while also supporting a call for far greater protection for vulnerable LGBTI individuals seeking asylum.
Saudi teen Rahaf arrives in Canada where she has been granted asylum
Toronto: A Saudi teenager, who has been escaping from her family, has arrived in Canada after the nation granted her asylum.
Canada grants asylum for Saudi teen who fled family: UNHCR
New York, Jan 12 (IBNS): Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun’s desperate and ultimately successful bid for asylum in the face of alleged death-threats from her own family, provides a “glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Friday.
Saudi woman seeking asylum in Thailand ‘now in a secure place’ says UNHCR
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday that 18-year-old Saudi national Rahaf Mohammed Al-qunun, who had been stranded at Bangkok airport after fleeing her family in Kuwait, saying that she would be killed if forced to return, was “now in a secure place”.