Syrian refugees straining health services in region, UN warns in new report
UN News Centre – 26 April 2013
The refugee crisis sparked by the conflict in Syria is increasingly straining health services in surrounding countries, while refugees are finding it harder to access the quality treatment they need, the United Nations refugee agency warns in report released today.
Relief operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state receive boost from UN emergency fund
UN News Centre – 26 April 2013
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has made available $5 million in additional funding to provide life-saving assistance to some 69,000 people displaced by the violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Aided by UN, star coach builds football team of Syrian refugees and young Lebanese
UN News Centre – 26 April 2013
In Halba, in the district of Akkar, in northern Lebanon, a football team called “Al-Nour” – “the light” in Arabic – is drawing increasing attention from the inhabitants of the region. The team was set up by Tareq Al Awaychi, a former star of the Syrian team Al Karami, who had to flee the violence in his country that has killed over 70,000 people since the beginning of the uprising against the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad in March 2011.
UN senior officials urge political focus in Mali efforts, while aid agencies flag budget gaps
UN News Centre – 19 April 2013
The top United Nations political official today reiterated the importance of the political process in Mali at a high-level meeting with senior UN and Government officials, while UN aid agencies urged more funding to assist the hundreds of thousands of Malians driven from their homes.
UN welcomes Germany’s offer to resettle residents of Iraq’s Camp Hurriya
UN News Centre – 18 April 2013
The top United Nations officials in Iraq today welcomed a generous offer by Germany of humanitarian admission for approximately 100 residents from Camp Hurriya, located near the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and urged the camp residents to cooperate with the UN for a speedy and safe resettlement.
UNHCR to expand higher education opportunities for the forcibly displaced
11 April 2013
The UN refugee agency and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), through its partner Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins initiative (JC:HEM), have signed an agreement to enhance higher education opportunities for refugees and other forcibly displaced people through online and on-site courses.
UNHCR calls for concrete steps to protect refugees through Bali Process
02 April 2013
UNHCR's top protection official on Tuesday welcomed a pledge by government ministers in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen cooperation to manage irregular maritime movements in a protection-sensitive regional approach.
Syria: UN refugee agency urges access for humanitarian aid
26 March 2013
The United Nations refugee agency today reiterated its appeal to all parties to ensure safe passage for convoys delivering humanitarian aid to civilians inside Syria.
UN agency and partners aid Thai refugee camp after deadly fire
25 March 2013
The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are rushing aid to north-western Thailand, where a fire killed more than 30 people, wounded several others and destroyed thatched homes leaving thousands of people homeless in a remote refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province.
UN agency deplores killing of five Palestinian children in Syria
23 March 2013
A United Nations agency today condemned the killing of five Palestinian children refugees in Syria and warned of the devastating effects that the crisis is having on youth.
In Guatemala, UNICEF chief urges increased nutrition and justice for children
22 March 2013
Despite some achievements in improving living standards for children, Guatemala must increase access to nutrition as well as to justice for its youngest citizens or leave an entire generation at risk, the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today.
Syrian conflict exacting growing toll on civilians, senior UN humanitarian official says
UN News Centre – 19 March 2013
Syrian civilians are increasingly bearing the brunt of the conflict which, as it enters its third year, has led to more than 70,000 people killed and three million displaced, a senior United Nations humanitarian official has said, urging more funding for humanitarian operations.
Iraq: Ban urges dialogue amid increased tensions, welcomes offer to Iranian group
UN News Centre – 18 March 2013
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a new report, voices concern about political tensions and security incidents in Iraq, which have increased in recent months, and calls on all parties to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
Philippines passes historic bill to protect internally displaced
09 February 2013
The UN refugee agency on Friday lauded the Philippines' Congress for passing a bill that seeks to protect the rights of more than 1 million internally displaced people (IDP) in the country.
UN refugee agency prepares to assist possible returnees in Mali
29 January 2013
With the fast-evolving military situation in Mali, the UN refugee agency is readying itself to assist in the possible spontaneous return of thousands of conflict-displaced people in the north of the country.
Rape and torture among serious rights violations spawned by Mali crisis – UN report
18 January 2013
The ongoing crisis in Mali has led to serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, rape and torture, says a United Nations report released today, which warns that increasing ethnic tensions could have alarming consequences on the North African nation.
UNHCR releases report critical of Nauru processing centre
14 December 2012
A UN refugee agency report released on Friday welcomes current efforts to improve a regional asylum processing centre used by Australia, but says arrangements at the facility in Nauru currently fall short of international protection standards.
UNHCR makes progress in assisting up to 500,000 people by year’s end
13 November 2012
The UN refugee agency is making progress in a major effort to provide aid to up to 500,000 people by the end of this year, despite recent disruptions to operations due to insecurity.
UN refugee agency urges countries to open borders to people fleeing Myanmar’s Rakhine state by boat
13 November 2012
The United Nations refugee agency today called on governments in Southeast Asia to keep their borders open to people fleeing Myanmar by sea, following reports of boats sinking in the Bay of Bengal earlier this month.