Over one million sea arrivals reach Europe in 2015
LESVOS, Greece, Dec 30 (UNHCR)—Over one million refugees and migrants have fled to Europe by sea this year, many on board dangerously inadequate vessels run by people smugglers, according to figures just released by the UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR’s latest figures...
UNHCR leads in LGBTI refugee, asylum seeker protection
GENEVA, Dec 24 (UNHCR)—The UN Refugee Agency is leading the way in delivering protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons in forced displacement with the rolling out of a new training programme for UNHCR staff and other protection...
Survival a struggle in Eastern Ukraine as winter looms
ZAITSEVE, Ukraine, Dec 23 (UNHCR)—When artillery shattered the roof of her cottage in this eastern Ukraine village, single mother Nina sought a home that offered more protection from the fighting for herself and her five young children. “It’s probably...
“End of Syria as we know it” if no peace deal, Guterres says
NEW YORK, Dec 21 (UNHCR)—If a swift end to the war in Syria is not found, the country may cease to exist, António Guterres, outgoing head of the UN Refugee Agency has warned. “If the conflict does not end quickly, this might be the end of Syria as we know it—and...
2015 likely to break records for forced displacement – study
GENEVA, Dec 18 (UNHCR)—With almost a million people having crossed the Mediterranean as refugees and migrants so far this year, and conflicts in Syria and elsewhere continuing to generate staggering levels of human suffering, 2015 is likely to exceed all...
Restoring peace must become a priority, says Guterres
GENEVA, Dec 18 (UNHCR)—Renewed efforts to bring peace to conflicts across the world must become the priority of the international community if current record levels of global displacement are not to continue, António Guterres, the outgoing head of the UN Refugee...
Ivorian returns resume from Liberia after Ebola outbreak
PROLLO, Côte d’Ivoire, Dec 18 (UNHCR)—The UN Refugee Agency has resumed the voluntary repatriation of tens of thousands of Ivorian refugees from Liberia, after a pause of more than a year because land borders were closed to prevent the spread of a deadly Ebola...
The Central African Republic: 1 in 5 forced to flee
Making a world of difference: Responding wherever needed In 2015, inter-communal fighting continued to drive hundreds of thousands of people to seek refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo. Nearly 900,000...