Returning refugees find comfort in home amid destruction in southern Syria
Despite returning to a damaged home and lack of services, former refugee Ibtihal remains hopeful, but more international support is needed to meet humanitarian needs and ensure Syria’s lasting recovery By Celine Schmitt and Vivian Toumeh in Dar’a, Syria Sitting in the...
Returning Syrians filled with hope despite the challenges ahead
On a visit to Syria and its neighbours, UN High Commissioner for Refugees meets families heading home and says more support is vital to ensure returns are a success By Sana Hamdan in Amman, Jordan, and Hameed Maarouf in Aleppo, Syria In the 13 years since Hassan...
How a Montreal church and a refugee advocate built a model of inclusion
Having just arrived in the Montréal borough of Anjou, Adedeji “Ade” Sunday Akintayo took a long, cold journey across the city to reach an unfamiliar place. But on that October day in 2017, he found a community in Beaconsfield United Church that would change his life...
UNHCR’s Grandi calls for global action to support Syrians returning home
DAMASCUS – Wrapping up a visit to Syria on Monday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, appealed to the international community for bold and decisive action to help Syrians rebuild their war-torn country and support displaced Syrians in returning home....
UNHCR’s operations responded as emergencies intensified in 2024
UN Refugee Agency assisted in 43 emergencies globally last year; one-third of new declarations were linked to climate. GENEVA – New wars, unresolved conflicts and a spike in climate-related disasters resulted in appalling levels of death, destruction and displacement...
UNHCR gravely concerned by worsening violence and humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR is gravely concerned about the safety and security of civilians and...
Climate change, conflict and political unrest: Mozambique’s triple crisis explained
A convergence of crises in Mozambique is forcing people to flee their homes, often multiple times, and complicating efforts to assist them By Isadora Zoni in Pemba, Mozambique Post-election unrest since October has forced thousands of Mozambicans and refugees to flee...
Escalating violence in eastern DR Congo displaces more than 230,000 since start of year
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is alarmed by the worsening violence in the...