Aleppo – a look behind the numbers
Frontline humanitarian workers capture the heartache and hopes of the recently displaced in and around Aleppo. With so much attention on the numbers of people fleeing fighting, UNHCR staff and partners on the ground share a rare glimpse into the lives of those...
East Aleppo residents tell of horror, cold and hunger
As they find safety in west Aleppo, displaced residents from the devastated east of the city describe the violence and shortages that led them to run for their lives. ALEPPO, Syria – Hunger finally drove 16-year-old Mohammad and his family to abandon their home in...
Syrian seamstress becomes a part of community fabric
With the help of sponsors, Rabiaa Al Soufi’s skills have become a valued part of one tight-knit community in Nova Scotia, Canada. By Leyland Cecco and Annie Sakkab in Antigonish, Canada When a local hockey coach phoned Rabiaa Al Soufi, she didn’t hesitate before...
Stand up for refugees, stand up for rights
The recent enthusiasm in Canada for the refugee cause shows how each of us can stand up for the rights of others. OTTAWA—On Dec. 10, the world marked International Human Rights Day. This is the time to raise awareness globally of the critical importance of the body of...
A tough road north for Central American children
Fleeing gang violence in El Salvador and Honduras, children risk abuse, smugglers and drug cartels in a desperate trek in search of safety. Nine-year-old Carlos and four-year-old Susana sit on the banks of the Usumacinta River in Guatemala with their father, Geronimo...
How a Canadian community helped to heal the wounds of war
Ripped from home in Syria, Husam and Noura feared for their family and future. But one Canadian community has helped them to dream again. Husam and Noura Eshadi grew up as neighbours and fell in love as teenagers in Aleppo, Syria. Married, with a baby daughter and a...
UNHCR moves 1,100 out of tents, beating first snow of winter
The United Nations Refugee Agency has arranged 19,500 places in apartments, hotels and with host families throughout Greece for relocation candidates and vulnerable asylum-seekers. ATHENS, Greece – Iraq refugee Kheri Mando Sliman, relieved to have left a freezing cold...
UNHCR calls for stronger EU action on refugees
In a paper presented to the European Union (EU) today, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called for a far-reaching reform of Europe’s global engagement with refugees, including the European asylum system. UNHCR called on Europe to offer more strategic and targeted support...