Rohingya refugee and Bangladeshi women weave a brighter future
A skills programme promotes self-reliance and aims to transform the lives of rural women in south-eastern Bangladesh. By Caroline Gluck in Ukhiya and Kutupalong, Bangladesh In a bamboo thatched women’s centre in Kutupalong, more than a dozen Rohingya refugees are...
Unique project in Cox’s Bazar puts Bangladeshi and refugee women first
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. A new training project in southeast Bangladesh to promote self-reliance among women in...
A year into sociopolitical crisis, thousands of Nicaraguans continue to flee
Since the government suppressed street protests last April, thousands have sought safety in neighbouring Costa Rica, where meeting basic needs remains a challenge. By Jean Pierre Mora in Upala, Costa Rica Despite having little interest in politics, Manuel* found...
Venezuelans living in the streets find safety in Colombia
Darlys and her children were among the thousands of Venezuelans exposed to serious risks in Maicao. A new reception centre offers temporary housing for the most vulnerable. By Marco Rotunno in Maicao, Colombia When Darlys* fled Venezuela with her two children looking...
I stopped by your house in Syria today, but no one was home
Eight years into the war in Syria, I paid a visit to the house where my friend Hani Al Moulia grew up. Like vast parts of his hometown, it was in a state of ruin. That night, I wrote Hani a letter: Dear Hani, I stopped by your house today, but you weren’t home. No one...
Rohingya refugee volunteers work to avert monsoon damage in Bangladesh
Volunteers are at the forefront of a drive to protect residents of the sprawling refugee settlements as the cyclone and monsoon season approaches. By Caroline Gluck and Iffath Yeasmine in Chakmarkul refugee settlement, Bangladesh Stepping along a narrow, winding...
Why including refugees makes economic sense
UNHCR’s new Director of the Africa Bureau, Raouf Mazou, says the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees is vital to the agency’s efforts to protect and assist them. By Ariane Rummery in Geneva The lightbulb moment for Raouf Mazou, who recently wound up a five-year stint...