News Releases
We bring you the most up-to-date information from UNHCR Canada through news releases.
Photo: © UNHCR / Roger Arnold
Refugees continue to reach Yemen by sea despite conflict
GENEVA, Oct 27 (UNHCR)—Almost 70,000 refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants—primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia—have reached Yemen by sea so far this year, despite on-going conflict and a deepening humanitarian crisis there, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday. The...
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 ensure their...
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...
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 their...
UNHCR backs increased protection for people fleeing disasters and climate change
GENEVA, Oct 14, (UNHCR)—The UN refugee agency has joined 110 nations in pledging to strengthen steps to protect people displaced across borders by disasters and climate change and launched an overview highlighting its work in the area. Delegates endorsed the "Agenda...
UNHCR condemns attack on displaced in western Chad, pledges more help
GENEVA, Oct 13 (UNHCR)—The UN refugee agency today strongly condemned two suicide attacks last weekend in western Chad in which a total of 47 people, including many people uprooted as a result of violence in northern Nigeria, were killed and dozens more injured....
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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