All articles tagged with #unhcr
Two boats carrying Rohingya migrants from Myanmar's Rakhine state sank in the Andaman Sea near the Ayeyarwady coast, with about 250 on one vessel and 280 on the other, leaving more than 500 feared dead. The journeys occurred in late June outside the regular sailing season, amid deteriorating conditions and funding cuts in Cox’s Bazar that heighten risks for refugees, as Myanmar's civil conflict continues and aid flows dwindle.
A three-year-old boy named Klieber Morán was pulled alive from rubble in La Guaira six days after Venezuela’s twin earthquakes and was taken to a Caracas hospital in good condition, as authorities warn of a rising death toll (about 1,943) and more than 10,000 injuries. NASA data estimate roughly 58,870 buildings damaged, with ongoing international aid, sheltering, and humanitarian needs as UN and WHO agencies flag food shortages and disease risk amid a large relief effort.
Most refugees flee overland to Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, but a growing number are attempting dangerous sea journeys toward Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. UNHCR data show about 367,000 Myanmar refugees seeking safety since 2022–2026, with only ~7% traveling by sea, yet maritime departures rose to roughly 25,300 from February 2022 to March 2026, and more than 2,300 died or went missing en route. Indonesia is a major foreign destination, followed by Bangladesh. The crisis traces back to the 2017 military crackdown that displaced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya; Myanmar denies genocide allegations.
About 250 people are missing after a trawler carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, with preliminary estimates of around 280 aboard; the vessel left Teknaf for Malaysia and sank amid heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding. Nine people were rescued by a Bangladeshi Coast Guard vessel, and survivors described being lured by traffickers and spending days at sea after the capsize. UNHCR and IOM urged increased, sustained funding for life-saving aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and for host communities. The incident underscores the ongoing peril faced by Rohingya fleeing persecution and the protracted displacement since Myanmar’s 2017 crackdown.
The UNHCR says up to 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced by the U.S.-Israel war, with civilians fleeing toward northern and rural areas as hostilities persist. The conflict features a wave of strikes and shipping incidents across the Gulf, including Israel’s alleged strike on a Taleghan nuclear program site and attacks on vessels near Basra, Dubai, and Kuwait. Oil prices rebound above $100 amid large-scale releases from U.S. and international reserves, while stocks slip worldwide. Casualties include an Indian sailor killed on the Safesea Vishnu and multiple injuries among U.S. personnel; the first-week war cost is estimated around $11.3 billion, prompting calls for additional funding.
Nearly 8 million Venezuelans live abroad—about a quarter of the population—making the diaspora one of the world’s largest, with the majority in Latin America and the Caribbean. The biggest host countries are Colombia (2.8M), Peru (1.7M), and the United States (about 988k), followed by Brazil, Chile, Spain and others. The UNHCR notes a global diaspora of roughly 7.9–8 million as of early 2026. Protections vary by country: Colombia offers a 10‑year residency under a Temporary Protection Statute, while the US revoked its Venezuelan TPS in 2025, leaving many in uncertain status. Despite hardship, Venezuela’s passport remains relatively strong, enabling broad travel through regional and global agreements.
The UN General Assembly elected former Iraqi President Barham Salih as the new UN High Commissioner for Refugees, succeeding Filippo Grandi, who will conclude his tenure at the end of 2025. Salih's extensive public service and personal experience with conflict and displacement make him well-suited to lead UNHCR during a time of significant global humanitarian challenges. Salih is expected to assume office on January 1, 2026, and will be based in Geneva.
A UN report reveals that climate-related disasters have displaced 250 million people over the past decade, with floods, storms, droughts, and heatwaves driving conflict and displacement, especially in fragile countries that receive limited climate finance. The situation is expected to worsen, with climate change intensifying human rights crises and threatening the habitability of refugee camps by 2050. The UN calls for urgent climate action and funding at COP30 to protect vulnerable populations.
Nearly a million people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to escalating violence, with the UNHCR warning of a "devastating level" of displacement and a humanitarian catastrophe. The March 23 Movement armed rebel group's expansion has led to intense fighting, forcing civilians to flee and overwhelming hospitals with weapon-wounded individuals. The conflict has also led to a hunger crisis, with a quarter of the population facing food insecurity, and has closed over 500 schools, putting children at risk. The U.S. has called for a peaceful resolution through the Luanda Process.
Dozens of Rohingya refugees are feared dead or missing after a boat carrying around 150 people capsized off the coast of West Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesian rescuers have called off the search for any remaining refugees, despite survivors' reports of dozens of people being swept away. The UNHCR and IOM expressed shock and deep concern over the situation, stating that if confirmed, this would be the biggest loss of life so far this year. This incident follows a recent influx of Rohingya refugees into Indonesia, with 1,752 refugees arriving between mid-November and late January, marking the largest influx since 2015.
Representatives from UNHCR, UNDP, ICRC, and WHO provided updates on various issues, including the prolonged uncertainty and exile for millions displaced by the third year of the Ukraine war, the socio-economic impact of the war and a new UNDP report on MSMEs, ICRC's work with missing persons in the international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and updates on the global measles situation and Gaza from WHO.
Over 100 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, have arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province, while hundreds more are stranded on two unseaworthy vessels in the Andaman Sea. The latest arrivals join the more than 1,000 Rohingya refugees who landed in Aceh province last month. Although Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees, it has a history of accepting refugees. The UNHCR has called for immediate search and rescue efforts to find the stranded boats, warning of the risk of fatalities if they are not rescued soon. The Rohingya, considered one of the most persecuted minority groups, have been fleeing Myanmar since a military-led crackdown in 2017.
Pakistan has faced criticism from western diplomats and the UN for imposing an exit fee of approximately $830 on Afghan refugees who fled persecution by the Taliban. The move targets refugees waiting to leave Pakistan for resettlement in western countries and comes after a crackdown on undocumented foreigners. Thousands of Afghans without proper documents have been in Pakistan since the fall of Kabul, and most of them are eligible for resettlement on humanitarian grounds. Western diplomats have called the exit permit fee unprecedented and frustrating, while the UNHCR is advocating for the exemption of refugees from these requirements.
The UN refugee agency has expressed concern over the distress caused by Pakistan's deportation drive targeting Afghan refugees. Pakistan announced plans to expel over a million undocumented refugees, mostly Afghans, leading to the departure of over 370,000 Afghans since October 1. The UNHCR stated that even documented refugees were being targeted, creating a sense of panic. Pakistan claims that harassment of documented refugees is rare and that it is taking action against perpetrators. However, the search operation to verify refugee status continues. Many Afghans fear deportation and have gone underground, citing concerns for their safety in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The International Organization for Migration highlighted the need for aid and shelter for returnees facing an uncertain future in Afghanistan.
The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern over a potential "human rights catastrophe" as thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan are being forced to return home before the October 31 deadline set by the government. The UNHCR and International Organization for Migration have called on Pakistan to suspend the forcible returns, warning that many of those facing deportation could be at risk of human rights violations if returned to Afghanistan. Pakistani Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has also criticized the policy, urging the government to reconsider its mass deportation approach.