News Releases
We bring you the most up-to-date information from UNHCR Canada through news releases.
Photo: © UNHCR / Roger Arnold
Filippo Grandi takes helm as UN High Commissioner for Refugees
GENEVA, Jan 4 (UNHCR)—Filippo Grandi, a UN official who has worked in refugee and political affairs in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, began his five-year term as UN High Commissioner for Refugees on January 1, succeeding António Guterres whose more than 10 years...
UNHCR battles cholera at world’s largest refugee complex
DADAAB, Kenya, Dec 31 (UNHCR)—Health workers at the world's largest refugee complex in Kenya are gaining the upper hand in battling a cholera outbreak that has killed 10 people and sickened around 1,000 others since it broke out last month amid rains linked to El...
Laughter, antics help refugee kids rediscover childhood
ERBIL, Iraq, Dec 30 (UNHCR)—A sense of excitement spread through the market area as dozens of children ran from their tents to find out where the music and laughter was coming from. It was a break from routine—the clowns were in town! The curious youngsters arrived to...
Over one million sea arrivals reach Europe in 2015
LESVOS, Greece, Dec 30 (UNHCR)—Over one million refugees and migrants have fled to Europe by sea this year, many on board dangerously inadequate vessels run by people smugglers, according to figures just released by the UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR's latest figures show...
UNHCR leads in LGBTI refugee, asylum seeker protection
GENEVA, Dec 24 (UNHCR)—The UN Refugee Agency is leading the way in delivering protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons in forced displacement with the rolling out of a new training programme for UNHCR staff and other protection...
Survival a struggle in Eastern Ukraine as winter looms
ZAITSEVE, Ukraine, Dec 23 (UNHCR)—When artillery shattered the roof of her cottage in this eastern Ukraine village, single mother Nina sought a home that offered more protection from the fighting for herself and her five young children. "It's probably still not a...
“End of Syria as we know it” if no peace deal, Guterres says
NEW YORK, Dec 21 (UNHCR)—If a swift end to the war in Syria is not found, the country may cease to exist, António Guterres, outgoing head of the UN Refugee Agency has warned. "If the conflict does not end quickly, this might be the end of Syria as we know it—and the...
2015 likely to break records for forced displacement – study
GENEVA, Dec 18 (UNHCR)—With almost a million people having crossed the Mediterranean as refugees and migrants so far this year, and conflicts in Syria and elsewhere continuing to generate staggering levels of human suffering, 2015 is likely to exceed all...
Restoring peace must become a priority, says Guterres
GENEVA, Dec 18 (UNHCR)—Renewed efforts to bring peace to conflicts across the world must become the priority of the international community if current record levels of global displacement are not to continue, António Guterres, the outgoing head of the UN Refugee...
Ivorian returns resume from Liberia after Ebola outbreak
PROLLO, Côte d'Ivoire, Dec 18 (UNHCR)—The UN Refugee Agency has resumed the voluntary repatriation of tens of thousands of Ivorian refugees from Liberia, after a pause of more than a year because land borders were closed to prevent the spread of a deadly Ebola...
To inquire about news releases, please reach out to our Media Contact:
Media Contact
Levon Sevunts
Communications Officer
P: +1 613-286-6975
E: sevunts@unhcr.org
Darcy Knoll
Senior Communications Officer
P: +1 613-219-4446
E: knoll@unhcr.org
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