Escalating conflict in South Sudan forces many thousands to flee just as aid dwindles
GENEVA – Over 165,000 people have fled increasing tensions and conflict in South Sudan in the past three months, seeking safety both within the country and across borders and deepening an already dire humanitarian situation across the region, UNHCR, the UN...
Rooted again: How one woman rebuilt her life and found a family at Ottawa’s Carty House
When Pamella speaks about home, her voice carries both the pain of exile and the resilience of someone who has survived it. Originally from Burundi, Pamella never imagined that speaking out about women’s rights could cost her everything—but it nearly did. By Zeba...
UNHCR fears extreme desperation led to deaths of 427 Rohingya at sea
GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is gravely concerned about reports of two boat tragedies off the coast of Myanmar earlier this month, with estimates that 427 Rohingya perished at sea. This would be the deadliest tragedy at sea involving Rohingya refugees...
UNHCR: New displacement and funding squeeze intensify Mozambique crisis
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR’s Mozambique Representative Xavier Creach – to whom the quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. GENEVA – Over 25,000 people have been newly displaced in...
UNHCR: Mass returns push Afghanistan to brink as aid dwindles
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR’s Afghanistan Representative Arafat Jamal – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners are...
Syrian centenarian leads his family home as returns reach half a million
Jassim,a Syrian returnee, stands near the ruins of his former home in rural AI-Qusayr, Homs governorate.© UNHCR/Hameed Maarouf Great-grandfather Jassim is among more than 500,000 Syrians who have returned from neighbouring countries since the fall of the Assad regime,...
Nicaraguan refugees in Costa Rica face renewed uncertainty amid cuts to support
A sharp reduction in funding has forced UNHCR and its partners to slash support to thousands of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum-seekers in Costa Rica By Carolina Fuentes in San José, Costa Rica It’s raining, and the zinc roof of Lillian’s small wooden home echoes...
Costa Rica’s solidarity with refugees threatened by major funding cuts, warns UNHCR
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. GENEVA – As humanitarian needs reach critical...