UN seeks $4.63 billion to aid Syrian refugees and host nations
Funding appeal launched at Helsinki event seeks to ease desperate plight of 4.7 million refugees and neighbouring countries hosting them. HELSINKI, Finland – Nearly six years since the start of the Syria conflict, United Nations agencies and NGO partners on Tuesday...
I am a refugee and I’m proud to stand for peace
Yusra Mardini, a refugee, inspired displaced people all over the world when she swam at the Olympic Games. Now she is working on new goals. By: Yusra Mardini | 11 January 2017 My name is Yusra. Yes, I’m the girl who swam for her life, then swam at the Olympics. Now...
Stand up for refugees, stand up for rights
The recent enthusiasm in Canada for the refugee cause shows how each of us can stand up for the rights of others. OTTAWA—On Dec. 10, the world marked International Human Rights Day. This is the time to raise awareness globally of the critical importance of the body of...
UNHCR calls for stronger EU action on refugees
In a paper presented to the European Union (EU) today, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called for a far-reaching reform of Europe’s global engagement with refugees, including the European asylum system. UNHCR called on Europe to offer more strategic and targeted support...
The 1951 Refugee Convention ‘is as relevant today’
While the world has changed in the 65 years since the Convention was drawn up, UNHCR’s protection chief, Volker Türk, explains why it remains relevant today. GENEVA – The 1951 Refugee Convention is the cornerstone of refugee protection and the work of UNHCR, the UN...
UNHCR to governments: People fleeing war to be considered refugees
Faced with record displacement from war and conflict, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has this week moved to reinforce the global refugee protection regime by issuing new guidelines on dealing with people fleeing their country because of war. The guidelines aim to...
Somali refugee student proves it’s never too late to learn
For most of her life, Nawa watched as other children went to school. As a refugee, and a girl at that, she was told there was no place for her to learn in the classroom. That looked set to continue when she arrived in Malaysia, where refugees do not have access to...
Solidarity “essential” to refugee protection
GENEVA – With wars and violence uprooting record numbers of people worldwide, UNHCR’s international protection chief today called for a renewed spirit of multilateralism and solidarity to provide effective refugee protection and curb xenophobia. In a speech to the...