Shakespeare in Za’atari
Twelve-year-old Wiam Yousef Al-Ammari has not been to school since her family fled Syria in January 2013. But that hasn’t stopped her from studying Shakespeare. She was one of 80 young refugees who recently staged “King Lear” at Za’atari camp in Jordan, exploring...
Fire and Rain
Rain pours down on the scorched ruins of what was, until just a few weeks ago, a refuge for thousands of people displaced inside the volatile North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dozens of former inhabitants, mainly women and children, gather...
As violence spreads beyond Nigeria, UNHCR calls for urgent access to the displaced
GENEVA, February 13 (UNHCR) –The UN refugee agency, concerned about the spread of violence from north-east Nigeria into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, on Friday called for urgent humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced people in these...
A Wedding in Wartime
In Syria, I’m told, wedding celebrations can last up to a week—and sometimes even a month. The night before the wedding, the groom is typically fêted at home or at the hamman. On the day of the ceremony, the bride spends hours getting ready with young relatives and...
Nigerian refugee children lose family in the desperate dash for safety
DAR ES SALAM CAMP, Chad, February 5 (UNHCR) – Since militants attacked the Nigerian town of Baga a month ago, more than 14,000 people have found safety in Chad, including hundreds of children who are still suffering. Many, like 15-year-old Ismail, have been separated...
Brighter Lives for Refugees is Back!
Together with the IKEA Foundation we are excited to launch the return of the Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign to raise millions of dollars for refugees living around the world. This marks the second year of the campaign. Last year’s campaign raised over 10 Million...
Chasing Away the Shadows
Refugee camps can be dark places. For many thousands of people living in tents and caravans far from home, the day effectively stops at sundown. Lack of light puts refugees at greater risk of injury or misfortune, limits their educational prospects and makes it harder...
Aid worker as hostage: Why 317 days must not be forgotten
It was 17 years ago that Vincent Cochetel, a UNHCR aid worker, was held hostage for 317 days in a dark Chechen basement, tortured and alone. For the first time, he tells his story of terror, but also of insight and inspiration. A TED Talk like no other, this video...