refugees

UN affirms ‘historic’ global compact to support world’s refugees

The United Nations General Assembly affirmed a non-legally binding Global Compact on Refugees on Monday, marking the latest move by Member States to support the rights of  over 68.5 million people have been forced to flee worldwide, including more than 25.4 million people who have crossed borders to become refugees.

Palestinian children ‘an inspiration’ in difficult circumstances: UN official

As UNRWA, the UN Agency relief and works agency for Palestinian refugees in the near east, approaches its 70th anniversary, Matthias Schmale, its director of operations in Gaza has appealed for its basic services to continue, for reasons of dignity and justice.

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FROM THE FIELD: Children in Lake Chad Basin attend school with help from UN-backed fund

Some 3.5 million children living in the Lake Chad Basin in Africa’s Sahel region do not have access to education according to the UN-backed Education Cannot Wait fund.

‘Time is of the essence’ for refugees on Greek islands – UN agency

Authorities in Greece must take urgent steps to address the “abhorrent” humanitarian situation for around 11,000 asylum-seekers on the islands of Samos and Lesvos, the UN refugee agency warned on Tuesday.

Indian music masters join refugee players, in wishing UN a happy birthday

Wednesday marked the 73rd birthday of the UN’s founding document, known as the UN Charter.  The anniversary is celebrated as “United Nations Day”, and every year, in the name of peace and our common humanity, a concert takes place in the UN’s General Assembly’s hall, in New York.  Yasmina Guerda from UN News was there and met some of the performers taking part.

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Vulnerable Venezuelan refugees need more aid: UNHCR’s Filippo Grandi

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. Mr. Grandi spoke to the UN Information Centre’s Edith Girval. 

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Sexual exploitation an ‘almost existential issue’ for UNHCR, says Deputy High Commissioner

Sexual exploitation is an “almost existential issue” for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Deputy High Commissioner Kelly T. Clements said on Tuesday. Announcing measures designed to encourage victims to come forward, she told UN News the number of reported cases of abuse has doubled among its more than 1,000 international partners in the last year, now that people “know where to go” to raise the alarm.

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Half the world’s refugee children not in school, UN agency finds

With more and more children forced to leave their homes, over half of the world’s school-aged refugees are now out of education, the United Nations refugee agency said in a new report released on Wednesday.

‘Passport to dignity’ that schools represent may expire fast, without emergency funding warns UN Palestine refugee agency

 

A lack of funds means that the new school term for over half a million Palestinian students could be cut short after just one month, says UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refuge

Refugee health services on track despite record level of displacement, says UN agency

Despite record numbers of people fleeing conflict and natural disasters globally, vital health services have been largely able to cope, the United Nations refugee agency has said; although communicable diseases, anaemia and stunting remain areas of concern.