Stories
The latest stories from UNHCR.
Photo: © UNHCR/Roland Schonbauer
We take special care to bring you the latest refugee news and stories of the men, women and children we help each day.
Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington & stars in refugee video
In the moment they flee, refugees cast a last desperate look around their homes and grab a few vital possessions to take into exile. Highlighting their harrowing choices, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett today launched a powerful video, supporting UNHCR’s...
Canada’s Blue Rodeo stands with refugees
Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo has partnered with UNHCR to record Stand Together with Refugees. In addition to their generous cash donation to support the Syrian refugee crisis late last year, Blue Rodeo continues to show its support for refugees worldwide...
Young Syrian footballer aims high in Germany
Seven-year-old Ahmad escaped war and chaos in Syria. Now safe, he hopes to become an international football star and is watching the European championships closely for new tips. A wide, gappy grin spreads over Ahmad Alzaher’s youthful face. He gazes at his father,...
Refugees and human rights student poetry contest, 2016 edition
UNHCR, the CCUNESCO and COSTI Immigrant Services are happy to announce the winners of the “Refugees and Human Rights Poetry Contest, 2016 edition”. Canadian students from grades 4 to 12 from schools across the country submitted high quality poems as part of this...
The importance of education for a young girl’s independence
Beautifully illustrated, Barikan tells of a story about an encounter with her mother. As a young girl, Barikan had wished for her mother to buy her shoes. In response, her mother encouraged her to get an education and become an independent woman so she could buy shoes...
UNHCR goodwill ambassador Cate Blanchett visits refugees in Jordan
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has announced the appointment of Cate Blanchett as a Global Goodwill Ambassador. The announcement comes as Cate returns from Jordan where she witnessed the ongoing humanitarian support to people displaced by conflict in Syria. She met...
Town hall with UN refugee chief
During his March visit to Ottawa, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi sat down with Louisa Taylor, Director of Refugee 613, to discuss the challenges of maintaining the safety and survival of refugees, and how the people of Ottawa have...
A Syrian family starts over in Canada
Wearing earplugs and protective gloves, Kevork Eleyjian hauls glued-wood veneers to a large machine on a noisy factory floor, shaping thin composite sheets into curved seats. The 28-year-old is among 15 Syrian refugees starting their lives over with jobs at the...
The kindness of strangers
Mohammad and Sahar sat across the aisle from one another, each with a son and daughter to care for during the 13-hour flight. Refugees from Syria, they had never been on a plane before. This life-changing journey would take them on four in as many days. Behind them...
UNHCR chief hails Canada PM’s leadership in global affairs
OTTAWA, Canada, March 22 (UNHCR) – Marking his first visit to Canada, the United Nations refugee chief congratulated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his humanitarian leadership over the global refugee crisis and conveyed a strong message of support calling for this...
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