UNHCR flags winter relief operations for refugees
GENEVA, Oct 23 (UNHCR)—The UN refugee agency said today it had begun distributing raincoats, blankets and other relief items to tens of thousands of refugees buffeted by the first winter storms that have already struck many parts of Central and South Eastern Europe,...
UNHCR concerned at reports of sexual violence against refugee women and children
GENEVA, Oct 23 (UNHCR)—The UN refugee agency said today it was concerned by “credible testimonies” it has received of sexual violence and abuse against refugee and migrant women and children on the move in Europe and called on authorities to take steps to...
Fleeing gangs, Salvadoran tailors make new life in Mexico
TAPACHULA, Mexico, Oct 23 (UNHCR)—Alfonso*, his wife and their three children live in just one sweltering room in southern Mexico, the large sewing machine in the middle of the floor a reminder of the livelihood they left behind when they fled gang violence in El...
Iraqi national flees for second time as bombs rain on adopted home of Yemen
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Oct 22 (UNHCR)—When Husam and his wife Nemah decided to leave their home in Shar Khawlan Nuqum, Yemen last June, they did not hesitate for one moment. The country was a war zone. Bombs were falling from the air like rains of fire. They knew if...
Refugees face long cold and wet night at crowded Balkan border crossings
BERKASOVO, Serbia, Oct 21, (UNHCR)—It is 6 pm, and night is falling fast. Amr and his family huddle under a makeshift shelter, partially lit by a nearby fire, on a small hill near the Serbian-Croatian border. It is windy and cold—the temperature having fallen to...
Number of sea arrivals in Greece hits half million mark
GENEVA, Oct 20 (UNHCR)—Sea arrivals so far this year to Greece have now passed the half-million mark with the arrival yesterday on the Aegean Islands of nearly 8,000 people, the UN refugee agency said today. It added that the latest arrivals had taken the overall...
Protection by Presence
Sometimes the simple act of being there is enough. They call it protection by presence. Arabic speakers, Farsi speakers, wearing the blue colours of UNHCR, offering a moment of reassurance as thousands of refugees make the long, uncertain trek through Europe. Under...
More support needed for Somali refugees going back home from Kenya
GENEVA, Oct 16 (UNHCR)—Nearly 5,000 Somali refugees from Kenya’s Dadaab camps have returned home since December 2014 and a further 4,500 have signed up to go back, the UN refugee agency announced today. UNHCR has helped the returning refugees with transport to...