The challenge of life in their Afghan homeland for children born in exile
KABUL, Afghanistan, November 20, 2014—The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted 25 years ago today to protect children like Hasanat and Aisha. The two have returned to a homeland, Afghanistan, that they had heard much about but never...
Emotional graduation ceremony triggers memories of Burundian scholar’s journey
NAMPULA, Mozambique, December 24, 2014 – When Oliviet Nyankuru heard his name being called out at a recent graduation ceremony in Mozambique’s Lurio University, he became emotional at the thought of his long journey to get there. “I remembered my whole...
Home Alone: South Sudan teen leads her young siblings to safety in Uganda
BOROLI REFUGEE SETTLEMENT, Uganda, September 4, 2014—When 13-year-old Yayo Tangko turned up at the Boroli refugee settlement in Uganda earlier in 2014 with her four younger siblings, she feared the worst for her missing parents. “They are dead, because otherwise...
What’s it like to be a child refugee?
Stories of loss, hope, joy and fear from those forced to grow up too quickly Two facts to consider: 1) In 2014, half of all refugees were children. 2) On average, a camp refugee spends 17 years living there, an entire childhood’s worth of time. As a generation, these...
SYRIA: Loss of hope and deepening poverty driving Syrians to seek refuge in Europe
An unprecedented humanitarian emergency is happening right now across Europe and the Mediterranean. Over 500,000 people have made the perilous journey to Europe in 2015 with thousands more arriving every day. Over 3,000 others have died or gone missing attempting this...
Europe: Women and Children arrive exhausted into Austrian town to warm welcome
They stride, sometimes even stumble, over the Austrian border and into the picture postcard town of Nickelsdorf. Among them are women and children, many of whom have been travelling for days, weeks, even months. They fled their wartorn homelands, trekking across...
Calgary students raise funds for earthquake relief
“Watch a hero and be a hero!” That was the slogan that Sunalta Elementary students used on their colourful posters to advertise a movie night showing of Big Hero 6, an event to raise funds for UNHCR’s earthquake relief in Nepal. Karen Anderson, who is a grade 6...
Why I give
Giving back is a way of life for Vancouver physicians It’s quickly evident that Dr. Claire Weeks and her husband, Dr. Peter Wing, have a strong sense of social responsibility. As long-time monthly donors to UNHCR, they’re grateful for their lives in Canada, honouring...