Tag

Unhcr

All articles tagged with #unhcr

world3 days ago•12 min saved

Six Million Afghan Returnees Rebuild Lives as Border Deportations Surge

Nearly six million Afghans have been forced to return from Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan in under three years—the largest cross-border movement in recent history—arriving with little, and often having never lived in Afghanistan for decades. They restart lives at harsh frontier camps and shelters as the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights constrain opportunities and aid remains strained, with UNHCR warning of a vast humanitarian crisis.

via BBC|

#afghanistan #deportations #refugees

world1 month 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

world1 month 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

world2 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

world4 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

world4 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

world5 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

world7 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

world8 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

world9 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

humanitarian-crisis2 years ago•2 min saved

"Indonesia Receives New Wave of Rohingya Refugees by Boat"

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.

via Al Jazeera English|

#andaman-sea #boat-arrival #humanitarian-crisis

human-rights2 years ago•3 min saved

Pakistan's Controversial Expulsion Policy Sparks Outrage and Panic Among Afghan Refugees

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.

via The Guardian|

#afghan-refugees #human-rights #pakistan