UNHCR expanding response in northern Iraq amid continuing Syrian refugee influx
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. More than 12,000 Syrian refugees have sought shelter in neighbouring Iraq since the...
Refugee returns to Burundi must be voluntary and not under pressure
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is repeating its call to ensure that refugee returns from Tanzania to Burundi remain voluntary and not under pressure, following a bilateral agreement between the two governments in August this year to increase return rates. Recently, we...
Good Samaritan opens her home to Venezuelan women and children in need
Two years ago, a Colombian housewife decided to turn her home into a makeshift shelter for refugees and migrants on a grueling trek to safety. By Jenny Barchfield in Pamplona, Colombia In the mid-1970s, Marta Duque’s father sent her from her home in the Colombian city...
National Youth Dialogue finds that Canadian youth believe Canada can do more for refugees
By Anaheh Ghookassian Khoygani in Ottawa, Canada Last fall, a group of high school students from across Canada came together to discuss the issues facing refugees in Canada and globally. The conversation was guided by the Centre for Global Education in collaboration...
Latest refugee influx to Iraq passes 10,000 mark as humanitarian needs mount in Syria
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Teams from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in northern Iraq report that last night more...
Refugees entering Iraq describe anguish at fleeing north-east Syria
As number of Syrian refugees crossing into Kurdistan Region of Iraq reaches some 10,000, one new arrival tells of crowded route to border and her fears of coming winter. By Rasheed Hussein Rasheed in Bardarash Camp, Kurdistan Region of Iraq When she finally...
New school brings Afghan students in from the cold
A UN-funded school building gives 500 children in a village north of Kabul a better chance at finishing their education. By Ali M. Latifi in Qarabagh, Afghanistan At 12, Mursal is the only girl in her sixth grade class. Over the years, all of the other girls –...
UNHCR launches sustainable energy strategy, strengthens climate action
In recognition of the growing climate crisis and to boost refugees’ access to safe and sustainable energy, while minimising its own environmental impact, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a four-year Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy. The strategy promotes...