Statement by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on World Refugee Day 2016
UNHCR marks World Refugee Day each year on June 20, to shine a light on the courage and resilience of families forced to flee war or persecution. And each year UNHCR seeks to find a glimmer of hope in the global statistics we publish to show that the world is finding...Canadians prepare to mark World Refugee Day
OTTAWA, 17 June 2016 – On June 20, World Refugee Day, Canadians will join people around the world to highlight the courage and perseverance shown by refugees in overcoming enormous odds to rebuild their lives. This year, World Refugee Day has a special meaning,...Global celebrities join campaign calling on governments to take action for refugees
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today launched a major campaign that asks the world to stand together #WithRefugees. In a stunning video message more than 60 global celebrities join with refugees and aid workers to echo the message, “we stand with refugees, please stand...
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,...
Ramadan pulls despair of millions of Syrians into sharp focus
AMMAN, June 7 (UNHCR)—For Abu Ahmad, Ramadan got off to a shaky start this year. As the 44-year-old from Homs and his family looked forward to breaking their first day of fasting with the traditional iftar meal in their small apartment in the Jordanian capital, Amman,...
Jamal Mahmut dreams of finding a job to support his family
Jamal, 30 years old: “We are so thankful to Canada for bringing us here. We are originally from Al Qamishli in Syria, an area controlled by ISIS. We just moved to our new apartment in East Ottawa a few weeks ago. We are comfortable here, though we still have...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...
These 10 refugees will compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio
For the first time, a team of refugee athletes will compete under the Olympic flag. Since the modern Olympics began in 1896, over 200 national teams have vied for glory at the Summer and Winter Games. Now, for the first time, a team of refugees will compete as well....