Filippo Grandi

This week’s top stories include action at the Human Rights Council on Eritrea, Myanmar and a push for all countries to take early action to stop violence against women and girls. In Ukraine, UN Refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi has been offering support to communities devastated by the Russian invasion, and we’ll also hear the latest hard-hitting findings of the UN Fact-Finding Mission in Libya.

• UN chief urges end to 'senseless' violence in Palestine, Israel
• Gaza humanitarian relief stepped up by UN agencies
• Countries urged to 'keep doors open' to LGBTIQ+ 

On a visit to the Colombian border, UN refugee agency chief, Filippo Grandi, said the international community must do more to aid thousands of Venezuelans leaving the country each day, many seeking international protection.

Mr. Grandi said the scale of the refugee exodus from Venezuela into Colombia was “shocking.”  

According to UNHCR, more than 4,000 are making the crossing every day, looking to stay or continue their journey southwards.

First closure of civilian protection site in South Sudan

Hundreds of families who had been sheltering at a UN camp in South Sudan are returning home due to improved security.  That's according to the UN mission in the country, UNMISS, which for the first time has closed one of its protection of civilian sites, or POCs.  These locations provide sanctuary for internally displaced people (IDPs) who have fled conflict which broke out four years ago.  Irene Lasu has been speaking to Sam Muhumure, the mission's Senior Coordina

The international community is being urged to continue supporting efforts to restore and rebuild Somalia.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi made the appeal during a visit to the country this week.

Decades of political instability coupled with armed violence, poverty, drought and other natural hazards, have displaced scores of Somalis: either within the country or across the border.

But, as Dianne Penn reports, many are returning home.

Duration: 2’04”

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has said that the violence experienced by refugees who’ve fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh is among the worst he has encountered – and that their plight is a “recipe” for a health “disaster”.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Wednesday, Filippo Grandi praised the Bangladeshi authorities for keeping their borders open, before calling on the government of Myanmar to find solutions to the crisis.

There’s now a collective commitment within the international community to work together on the response to the global refugee and migrant crisis.

That’s the view of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, speaking in New York before world leaders adopted what’s been described as a “bold plan” to enhance protection for those people who have been forced to flee their homes.

The UN says there are some 65 million people forcibly displaced worldwide.

It has been three months since a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Ecuador, killing more than 660 people.

The disaster left more than 80,000 people homeless, including refugees fleeing violence in neighbouring Colombia.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees recently travelled to the South American country to meet displaced families.

Dianne Penn reports.

Duration: 2'15"