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Unhcr

All articles tagged with #unhcr

international7 days ago•7 min saved

UN Refugee Agency Faces Existential Crisis as US Funding Collapse and Internal Reforms Clash

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is in a state of unprecedented weakness, facing a potential existential crisis due to drastic funding cuts and political friction with the US government. High Commissioner Barham Salih has warned that the agency is being asked to do the impossible, with only 32% of its 2026 budget secured. While Salih proposes a new '50/35 initiative' to reduce long-term refugee dependency by 2035, the agency is simultaneously losing staff, closing offices, and facing diplomatic standoffs with Washington over leadership appointments and the dismantling of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

via PassBlue|

#barham-salih #international #refugee-funding

world16 days ago•5 min saved

Malaysia Deports 1,500 Myanmar Refugees Amid Safety Concerns and Aid Shortfalls

Malaysia deported nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals on September 29, 2026, as part of a plan to repatriate 5,000 people. The move follows a surge in anti-refugee sentiment and raids, while UNHCR and rights groups warn that returns are unsafe due to ongoing conflict in Myanmar. Aid resources have shrunk significantly since the closure of USAID in 2025, leaving fewer protections for detainees.

via Al Jazeera|

#deportation #malaysia #myanmar

world1 month ago•7 min saved

Six Million Afghans Return Home as Neighbors Crack Down on Migrants

A massive, forced repatriation of six million Afghans from Pakistan and Iran is overwhelming the country's fragile infrastructure. While the UN warns of a humanitarian crisis, the Taliban government frames the influx as a long-term benefit, despite facing severe international isolation and funding shortages.

via BBC|

#afghanistan #deportation #pakistan

world3 months ago•1 min saved

Dozens Dead or Missing as Refugee Boat Drifts off Mauritania

UNHCR says at least 143 refugees and migrants are dead or missing from a single boat off Mauritania after 25 days adrift; 387 people were rescued from other boats between July 14–18; the vessel left The Gambia and arrived at Nouadhibou with 38 survivors and bodies on board, including two children who lost their families; another death occurred on a vessel that disembarked July 14; Mauritania's coastguard says 122 are missing; the dead were from sub-Saharan states; the route to the Canary Islands is among the deadliest, and EU crackdowns have driven departures to longer, riskier journeys down the coast.

via Al Jazeera|

#canary-islands #mauritania #migration

world3 months ago•2 min saved

Rohingya Refugee Boats Sink, 500+ Feared Dead

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.

via UN News|

#iom #myanmar #refugees

world3 months ago•4 min saved

Six-day rescue: three-year-old pulled alive from Venezuela quake rubble

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.

via BBC|

#earthquake #jordanian-rescue #la-guaira

world6 months ago•4 min saved

Rohingya Refugees Turn to Perilous Sea Crossings for Safety

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.

via Reuters|

#myanmar #refugees #rohingya

world6 months ago•2 min saved

Rohingya Refugee Tragedy as Trawler Capsizes in Andaman Sea, Hundreds Feared Missing

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.

via The Guardian|

#andaman-sea #bangladesh #refugees

world7 months ago•14 min saved

War in Iran Triggers Mass Displacements, Oil Surges as Gulf Tensions Rise

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.

via CBS News|

#displacement #gulf #iran

world9 months ago•3 min saved

The Venezuelan diaspora: who hosts the exodus

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.

via Al Jazeera|

#diaspora #migration #temporary-protection-statute

world10 months ago•1 min saved

Former Iraqi President Barham Salih Elected as UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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.

via UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency|

#barham-salih #displacement #refugees

world11 months ago•3 min saved

UN Reports 250 Million Displaced by Climate Disasters in a Decade

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.

via The Guardian|

#climate-change #climate-refugees #displacement

humanitarian-crisis2 years ago•3 min saved

"Escalating Violence in DR Congo Sparks Humanitarian Crisis Warning"

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.

via ABC News|

#congo #displacement #humanitarian-crisis

international-news2 years ago•1 min saved

"Rescue Efforts Save Dozens of Rohingya Refugees from Capsized Boat in Indonesia"

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.

via Hindustan Times|

#boat-capsized #indonesia #international-news

international-organizations-briefing2 years ago•0 min saved

"Global Efforts to Combat Measles Surge as WHO Reports 79% Increase in Cases"

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.

via Welcome to the United Nations|

#icrc #international-organizations-briefing #ukraine-war