North Macedonia accedes to key statelessness treaty
By UNHCR in Geneva, Switzerland North Macedonia’s accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness is an important step in global efforts to end statelessness, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on Monday. This brings the total number of State...
Turning weeds into energy in Ethiopia
A cooperative of Somali refugees and Ethiopian host community, supported by the IKEA Foundation, turn invasive weeds into energy. By Katie Nguyen in Bur Amino, Ethiopia When Asha Abdikadir Ahmed used to cook with firewood, her restaurant filled with billowing clouds...
Afghan children learn side by side with Iranian peers
An exemplary policy in Iran lets Afghan children attend public school, whether they are registered refugees, passport holders or even undocumented. By Farha Bhoyroo in Esfahan, Iran As the bell rings to announce the start of the day, a group of girls run through the...
Asylum-seeker in Greece speaks out about the violence that upended her life
On her way home from work, a woman in Cameroon was attacked and raped by a pack of strangers. Now seeking asylum in Greece, she is raising her voice to help others. By Josie Le Blond in Lesvos, Greece The nightmare that forced Virginie Laure to flee Cameroon came at...
Mohamad Fakih gives a voice to the displaced people of Central America
By UNHCR Staff During his recent visit to Mexico, the Founder and CEO of Paramount Fine Foods found resilient people from the North of Central America (NCA) region who were forced to leave everything behind. But in Saltillo, these women, children and men are now...
Turkey scholarship lets star Syrian student pursue dentistry dream
After fleeing Aleppo in 2013, Sidra’s dream of studying dentistry became a reality thanks to her own determination and Turkey’s support for refugee higher education. By Rima Cherri in Istanbul, Turkey Since she arrived in Turkey six years ago, Syrian refugee Sidra has...
US producer helps Syrian singer give voice to her dreams
An American music producer has traveled to Lebanon to record an album with Syrian refugees, giving them a platform to share their feelings and experiences. By Dalal Mawad in Beirut, Lebanon When Souzda fled the deadly shelling in Afrin in northern Syria, she thought...
UNHCR outraged at senseless attacks on humanitarians in South Sudan
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for increased protection for aid workers in...