Activist champions rights of people with disabilities in Ukraine
Tetiana Barantsova named regional winner for Europe for the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. By Oksana Grytsenko in Kyiv Tetiana Baransova fell and broke her spine while doing gymnastics at school when she was just 10 years old. A wheelchair user ever since, she has...
Jordanian scientist finds winning formula to get kids reading
Rana Dajani is regional winner for MENA of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for her programme to get children reading for pleasure, that has since gone global. By Peter Murtaugh in Richmond, Virginia, USA Dr. Rana Dajani had recently returned to her home country of...
Afghan sports coach helps young refugees find a path to school in Iran
Football coach and youth counsellor Rozma Ghafouri is the regional winner for Asia for UNHCR’s annual Nansen Refugee Award for her work empowering Afghan refugee girls. By Farha Bhoyroo in Shiraz, Iran Standing on the sidelines of a football pitch, whistle in hand,...
UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winners
The everyday heroes from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East are being honoured for their outstanding humanitarian work. By Bathoul Ahmed GENEVA – A refugee school teacher striving to empower rape survivors, a scientist and mother of four on a quest to make...
Help needed to meet ‘urgent humanitarian needs’ in Syria, Grandi says
After meeting families in Eastern Ghouta struggling to meet their basic needs and now threatened by COVID-19, UN Refugee Chief appeals for more help ease their plight. By Vivian Toumeh in Zamalka, Syria UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has concluded a...
As attacks surge in northern Mozambique, families flee multiple times
Violence by armed groups has uprooted more than 250,000 people since 2017 in Cabo Delgado, with many living in dire conditions as they seek safety. By Helene Caux in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique Grandmother Joaquina* was asleep when armed militants slipped into her...
Greece: update on Lesvos situation after Moria fires
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Efforts are continuing in Greece to shelter asylum seekers made homeless in a series...
Grandi concludes Syria visit with pledge to maintain assistance to the most vulnerable
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi reaffirmed the commitment of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to providing vital humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria and refugees in the country, following a three-day visit to the Syrian Arab Republic from...