UNHCR’s Türk warns against growing politicization of refugee and asylum matters
GENEVA, Oct 8 (UNHCR)—UNHCR’s top International Protection expert warned today of growing risks to people fleeing war and persecution, and said a renewed spirit of commitment from governments worldwide to the core human rights and rule of law principles on which...
UN High Commissioner calls for renewed international focus on Afghanistan
GENEVA, Oct 6 (UNHCR)—UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres today appealed to the international community to refocus its attention on Afghanistan, warning that it would be dangerous to ignore the country, and praised Iran and Pakistan for hosting so many...
Guterres says UNHCR and partners struggle to meet humanitarian needs
GENEVA, Oct 5 (UNHCR)—The global refugee crisis is so great that the UN refugee agency and other agencies are struggling to respond to and meet all the humanitarian needs they face. That was the bleak message of UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres,...
Refugee sea arrivals in Greece this year approach 400,000
ATHENS, Greece, October 2 (UNHCR)—The UN refugee agency said on Friday that refugee and migrant arrivals in Greece are expected to hit the 400,000 mark soon, despite adverse weather conditions. Greece remains by far the largest single entry point for new sea arrivals...
200,000 Syrian refugee children to get free schooling in Lebanon
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct 2 (UNHCR)—Tasnim, a 12-year-old refugee girl from Aleppo, Syria, is excitedly preparing to return to school. “I want to become a dentist. I have always been intrigued by the tools and materials dentists use in their neat clinics. Every time...
Number displaced by violence in Bangui soars past 40,000
BANGUI, Central African Republic, Oct 1 (UNHCR)—An uneasy calm has returned to the Central African Republic capital of Bangui, but violence and tension has been reported from the provinces and the number of displaced people has soared to more than 40,000 within...
Refugee Crisis in Europe—Nansen Refugee Award OP-ED by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Khaled Hosseini
Like millions around the world, I have been moved by the recent public outcry and spontaneous acts of solidarity towards refugees in Europe. It has been riveting to watch, as well as greatly encouraging. As an Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, I have been...
Iraqi schools face a desk deficit
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept 30 (UNHCR)—While many Iraqi students were enjoying the last weeks of summer before school resumed, the classrooms of al-Asil elementary school in Baghdad’s Mansour neighbourhood were full. Here, students whose families had been uprooted by...