Relocation flights give Venezuelans a new lease on life in Brazil
By flying thousands of Venezuelans out of a remote Amazonian state to cities with better job prospects, an ‘interiorization’ programme helps refugees get off to a fresh start. By Jenny Barchfield in São Paulo, Brazil Gabriela Peña fled hunger, widespread shortages...
Kazakhstan amends laws to ensure universal birth registration and prevent childhood statelessness
Joining global efforts to prevent statelessness, Kazakhstan has amended its Code on Marriage and Family so as to ensure that all children born in the country are registered at birth and issued birth certificates, regardless of the legal status of their parents. By...
Syrian rose farmer uses skills to graft new life in Lebanon
With a bag of seeds and a lifetime of knowledge, Syrian refugee Salem has regrown his precious flowers in Lebanon to provide his family and others with a vital income. By Rima Cherri in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon Several times a week when the roses are in full bloom,...
‘Hello Mum … It’s me, Mohamed’
Asylum-seekers flown from detention in Libya to safety in Rwanda call home to reassure relatives who feared the worst. By Linda Muriuki in Gashora, Rwanda Refugees evacuated to Rwanda from detention in Libya escape beatings, extortion, torture and rape. They also find...
At a Christmas concert in Panama, refugees are the guests of honour
Having fled Venezuela, Panama Philharmonic Orchestra director Víctor Mata brings holiday cheer to refugees and asylum seekers. By Diana Díaz in Panama City, Panama As the founder and director of the Panama Philharmonic Orchestra, Víctor Mata knows the power of music...
“We feel more like family together”: B.C. residents help newly resettled Congolese refugees celebrate first Christmas in Canada
It took five families to sponsor a refugee family, and one to give them the Christmas they’ll always remember. By Lidia Abraha in Toronto, Canada Delphin Ngage never thought he’d one day find himself searching for a Christmas tree in the forest of Squamish, B.C. Born...
Historic forum yields pledges of jobs, education for refugees
First-ever Global Refugee Forum wraps up with over 770 pledges to boost opportunities for refugees and their hosts. By Tim Gaynor and Matthew Mpoke Bigg in Geneva A historic meeting in Geneva wrapped up today with wide-ranging and substantial commitments to help...
Global Refugee Forum pledges collective action for better refugee inclusion, education, jobs
A high-level meeting in Geneva of governments, international financial organizations, business leaders, humanitarian and development actors, refugees, and civil society representatives has secured wide-ranging and substantial commitments of support for refugees and...