As Abdoulaye collapsed under a desert tree, his priorities shifted when he encountered neighbors fleeing from militia attacks. They had found two small children whose mother was killed, leaving them abandoned. Abdoulaye, determined not to leave the terrified children behind, welcomed them and continued his escape with his wife, Hawaye. After the conflict in Sudan escalated in April 2023, Abdoulaye and Hawaye sent three children to safety in Chad. Upon arriving at Arkoum refugee camp, in eastern Chad, they found their children, who embraced their new siblings. Now, Abdoulaye and Hawaye participate in a foster family program by the Jesuit Refugee Service, supported by the UN Refugee Agency (), which includes eight other refugee families in Arkoum and 55 in the Hadjer Hadid region.
Esneda Saavedra is a member of the Yukpa people, who have lived in the SerranÃa del Perijá mountain range on the Colombia-Venezuela border for centuries. In recent decades, conflicts, forced displacement, resource exploitation, and climate change have threatened their way of life. Born in the Sokorpa reserve, Esneda was influenced by her mother, a traditional authority, and felt compelled to lead from a young age. “I was born to defend our land and people,†she affirms. The Yukpa have faced violence and displacement since colonial times, and when Esneda was eight, her father was murdered by armed groups exploiting their ancestral territory. She has faced threats herself for advocating for her community.
Every week, thousands of refugees and migrants cross the Darién jungle in search of safety and a better life. In 2023, over 520,000 people, mainly from Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, and parts of Africa and South Asia, made the journey. Despite promises from smugglers and social media of an easy passage, migrants often spend four to ten days navigating difficult terrain, carrying their belongings and small children in intense heat before reaching temporary migratory reception centres. Surveys conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees () show that about 70% of those arriving in the Darién rely on social media for information, often downplaying the journey's risks. UNHCR’s ‘ initiative uses social media to share testimonies from refugees and migrants who have survived the crossing with others considering the journey.
Twishime Ntibenda, a barber from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), found a way to balance working at his barbershop in a displaced persons’ camp and attending school after fleeing his home village due to an armed attack. Despite difficult living conditions in displaced camps, young people like Twishime are finding ways to survive and pursue their dreams. His survival method was to focus on a passion he developed as a teenager: haircutting.
was launched at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) meeting in Geneva, building on the campaign to foster collaboration among stakeholders and address the urgent issue of statelessness worldwide.
Five trailblazing women – a nun, an activist, a social entrepreneur, a volunteer aid worker, and an advocate for ending statelessness – are being honoured today as winners of the from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen Award honours individuals, groups and organizations who have taken extraordinary action to protect refugees, as well as internally displaced and stateless people. The ceremony will be live-streamed on at 19:30 CEST.
Over the past year, have condemned Hamas's attacks, called for the immediate release of all hostages, and urged ceasefires, as Gaza remains sealed off with no safe areas for civilians; the UN is committed to delivering aid to the people of .
Since 2016, Burkina Faso has been experiencing political instability and violent conflict, leading to over 2 million internally displaced people and more than 200,000 refugees in neighboring countries. Maimouna Ba's organization, Femmes pour la Dignite du Sahel (), has offered since 2020 school fees for displaced children and skills training for displaced women. She collected donations, rallied support and encouraged volunteers to join her. Since then, her Un Enfant, Un Parrain (One Child, One Sponsor) programme has matched vulnerable children with individual sponsors who contribute towards their school fees.
The ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon have forced tens of thousands of individuals to flee from the southern regions, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, seeking safety in areas like Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the North.
As many continue to search for housing and shelter, the , focusing on the needs of both affected Lebanese communities and refugees. Key priorities include providing safe shelter, core relief items, healthcare, cash assistance, and protection services to ensure the well-being of those impacted by the violence.
Despite repeated announcements of ceasefires, the intense fighting between two military factions that erupted in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, on 15 April has quickly spread to other parts of the country. Over 5 million people have had to flee their homes to escape brutal violence, most health facilities are no longer functioning, and hunger and disease are on the rise. The fighting has created a humanitarian emergency both inside Sudan and in the wider region. Take a look at the humanitarian context behind the current crisis, its impact on civilians and what the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees () and its partners are doing to respond to this emergency.
How is the recent mpox outbreak impacting refugees and displaced people in Africa? The surge in mpox cases has raised concerns about its potentially devastating impact on people living in crowded camps. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( is currently working with partners to contain the outbreak. To gain more insight into the situation, UNHCR interviewed Dr. Allen Maina, Chief of Public Health at the UN Refugee Agency, to understand what mpox is and how it is affecting refugees and other displaced people.
Climate change, conflict, political instability, disease and economic shocks are driving humanitarian needs in the Southern and Eastern Africa region. At least 74 million people in the region need humanitarian assistance - that's the highest number of people in need in the world. This number is expected to increase by the end of the year due to climate change and conflict. Displacement and food crises, a high incidence of cholera and a growing number of violent sexual assaults are among the most serious challenges facing this area of the African continent.
Guillaume Junior Atangana's historic third-place finish in the men’s 400m at the Paris Paralympics, exemplifies the resilience and triumph of the and the power of sport to inspire hope among refugees.
A week before the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Guillaume Junior Atangana and his guide and fellow refugee Donard Nyamjua received a surprise call from the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons. Junior, as many call him, was overjoyed and touched when the President informed him that he would be carrying the flag into the Opening Ceremony for the , accompanied by Donard. Sport, and their determination to compete in another Paralympics, has helped them through some of their toughest moments. In Paris, Donard wants to send a message to other refugees and people with disabilities that “anything is possible.â€
On the occasion of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are hosting a (27- 28 August), focused on leveraging Para sport as a catalyst for advancing disability inclusion. It is estimated that over 15% of the world's population live with a disability, and yet disability inclusion as a social movement is often overlooked, underfunded and misunderstood. UNESCO and the IPC aim to advance collective efforts to remove barriers, fight stigma, and increase access to sports and physical activity for persons with disabilities.