Number fleeing Burundi to neighbouring countries tops 300,000
Reception capacities in host countries Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are severely overstretched, UNHCR warns. GENEVA – The number of people fleeing violence, threats, extrajudicial killings, abduction, torture and persecution in Burundi...
Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram return home to ruins
Around 70,000 people have found destruction, insecurity and scarcity on arrival in Gwoza, a city liberated earlier this year from militants in northern Nigeria. GWOZA, Nigeria – After Nigerian forces liberated this once thriving city from Boko Haram militants,...
Talk, or the water will break your heart
Volunteers for 2016 Nansen Refugee Award winners Hellenic Rescue Team share their experience of a traumatic year. LESVOS, Greece – At a small tavern overlooking the coastline of Lesvos, Panagiotis Konstantaras and Antigoni Piperaki are taking a short break from...UNHCR welcomes Canada’s support at Summit
UNHCR Representative in Canada, Johannes van der Klaauw, praised Canada for its very active engagement at both the General Assembly and Leader’s Summit in New York last week. “I would like to express UNHCR’s profound appreciation to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau...Canada, UNHCR and Open Society Foundations seek to increase refugee resettlement
UNITED NATIONS/NEW YORK CITY, September 19, 2016 – The Government of Canada, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Open Society Foundations have agreed to launch a joint initiative aimed at increasing private sponsorship of refugees around the...
As beloved imam’s hope for peace live on
For decades, Imam Moussa Bawa worked with Italian nun Sister Maria Concetta to help refugees of all faiths to live in peace. On his death, his successor pledges to continue his work. When they welcomed newborn babies in this town in Democratic Republic of the Congo...
Mosul offensive triggers growing displacement in Iraq
As a military offensive to retake Iraq’s second city Mosul gathers momentum, UNHCR prepares to assist hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people. DEBAGA, Iraq – Under cover of darkness, 14-year-old Ali slipped out of his village near Mosul with his family...
UNHCR welcomes Leaders support for refugees
UN Refugee Chief Filippo Grandi welcomes significant new backing from the UN Leaders’ Summit on Refugees to improve protection and solutions for the forcibly displaced. NEW YORK – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has welcomed the significant new support committed...