UN Refugee Chief in Mexico hears stories of hope and despair from Central American refugees, calls for more support for refugee response
Mexico City – During a four-day visit to Mexico, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited an innovative programme to integrate refugees, and met refugees and asylum seekers in cities in the northern and southern parts of the country, who told him about...
Intrepid lawyer achieves quest to eradicate statelessness in Kyrgyzstan
Heading out on foot, on horseback and in four-wheel drives, Azizbek Ashurov and his team of lawyers have helped Kyrgyzstan to end statelessness. By Kate Bond in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic Azizbek Ashurov says he does not secure citizenship for people who live...
Kyrgyz human rights lawyer wins UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award
A lawyer whose work has supported the efforts of the Kyrgyz Republic in becoming the first country in the world to end statelessness has been selected as the 2019 winner of the UN Refugee Agency’s Nansen Refugee Award. Azizbek Ashurov, through his organization...
Statelessness in Canada: UNHCR Canada releases new study
By Anaheh Ghookassian Khoygani in Ottawa, Canada 2019 marks the mid-point of UNHCR’s #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness. The #IBelong Campaign was launched in November 2014 with the goal of ending statelessness within 10 years. Together with States, civil society...
UN Refugee Chief praises Mexico’s support for refugees
As Central Americans’ asylum claims soar 231 per cent in less than one year, Filippo Grandi calls for further resources to better cope with the flow. By Jenny Barchfield in Tapachula, Mexico When he received a death threat from a security official angered by his...
Refugee movements in South East Asia decrease, but threats on their journey rise
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Liz Throssell – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Refugee movements in South East Asia dropped sharply over the 18 months between...
Greece must act to end dangerous overcrowding in island reception centres, EU support crucial
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Liz Throssell – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is today calling on Greece to urgently move thousands of...
Derelict school gets new life as play centre for Syrian kids
A once deserted school in southern Lebanon has been transformed into a joyful summer sanctuary for underprivileged Syrian refugee children. By Rima Cherri in Rmeileh, Lebanon Having lain empty and silent since it was occupied and then abandoned during Lebanon’s civil...