Honduran family starts new life across the country, but terror is never far
Hounded by gangs, the family was among hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people on the run within this small Central American nation. By Pamela Villars in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Three times, Mariana* stood up to the violent gangs that took over her...
Conflict and pandemic drive more people to risk deadly sea route from Libya
A Sudanese teenager survived brushes with death in a quest for asylum, but rising insecurity and COVID-19 restrictions drove him to risk all on the open seas. By Tarik Argaz in Tripoli, Libya Since before he can remember, 18-year-old Siddik’s* life has been shaped by...
United in Music: A virtual charity concert to aid UNHCR’S coronavirus response
International artists, professors and friends from 30 countries, join Maestro Shlomo Mintz, team up for globe-spanning performance in support of the UN Refugee Agency’s COVID-19 appeal. More than 50 musicians from around the world are contributing their talents and...
UNHCR steps up emergency assistance in Libya as continued conflict and COVID-19 create more hardship
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Amidst deteriorating security conditions, as well as restrictions on movement due to...
Central America’s displacement crisis aggravated by COVID-19
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. An escalating situation of chronic violence and insecurity, coupled with...
Public health response in Rohingya refugee settlements on alert as first coronavirus case confirmed
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partner organizations have further intensified...
Venezuelan counsellors offer fellow refugees ‘psychological first aid’
In Peru, Venezuelan mental health professionals are reaching out to the diaspora with remote sessions to help them cope in the coronavirus pandemic. By Victoria Thomas and Emily Álvarez in Lima, Peru Even as David Marín Cabrera helps his fellow Venezuelans deal with...
UNHCR urges prioritization of mental health support in coronavirus response
The consequences of coronavirus are taking a huge toll on the mental health of refugees, displaced and stateless people, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning today. “COVID-19 is not just a physical health crisis but it is now also triggering a mental health...