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Current Feed ContentDRC: Children most vulnerable as thousands need urgent aidHundreds of children are fending for themselves after being separated from their families in fighting between the army and rebels in the eastern province of North Kivu, aid workers have said. "Up to 100,000 people fled their homes due to heavy fighting between belligerent armed groups in North Kivu last week," said Jaya Murthy, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) communications specialist in the region. At least 60 percent of those who fled are children. "The condition of newly displaced...DRC-UGANDA: Facilities overwhelmed as refugees stream to borderFood, water, health and sanitation facilities at several villages on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border are overstretched as civilians continue to pour into Uganda, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said on 31 October. The agency said the facilities were inadequate for the more than 6,500 people scattered in 12 villages along the border who are being hosted by the local communities. "It is very difficult for us to provide assistance to the refugees at the border, where the...Assistant High Commissioner reports mixed year for refugee protectionDespite some gains over the past year, far too many refugees and asylum seekers still face intolerance and denial of their rights in many parts of the world, UNHCR's top protection official said Wednesday. In an address to the annual meeting of UNHCR's 76-nation Executive Committee, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller presented some of the main findings of the refugee agency's annual Note on International Protection. Noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the...BURUNDI: Fighting for landThousands of Burundians have returned home after years of refugee life in Tanzania, but finding shelter and enough land to farm remains a challenge. "Fifteen percent of long-term returnees repatriated this year are landless," said Léon Ndikunkiko, spokesman for the Ministry of National Solidarity, National Reconstruction, Human Rights and Gender. In mid-August, some 1,200 returnees were stranded in Makamba Province, waiting to be resettled. By October, only 200 had been resettled in Gitara by...Warning for Sierra Leonean RefugeesThe United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR has urged the Sierra Leonean refugees in the country to take an option before their succession comes to an end in December 2008. Addressing refugees at GAFNA office in Bakau, three UNHCR officials from Dakar including Mariam, Stephanie and Benedicta Voos encouraged Sierra Leonean refugees to understand what is in the offing for them. Mariam, explaining the three points to the refugees, in al well packed conference room said, “UNHCR’S...UNHCR Trains National Assembly Members on Refugee LawsRefugees insociety are obviously part of society and those protecting them have the responsibilityto know the laws governing them. UNHCR has made lots of efforts to get thecommunity, the refugees and the government know what a refugee is and how theyare to be protected. They have further gone ahead to educate the refugeesthemselves on a series of pertinent issues including their repatriation,succession and integration. Their points explained much and made an impact andmany refugees have...GUINEA-SIERRA LEONE: Refugee status ends but many opt to staySome 6,300 Sierra Leonean refugees who have been living in Guinea for 20 years will lose their refugee status as of 1 January 2009 according to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), leaving them with a choice to stay legally in Guinea as Sierra Leonean citizens, or to return home. "With the return of peace in their country [in 1999], UNHCR no longer sees any reason to leave Sierra Leonean refugees to benefit indefinitely from refugee status,” said Dillah Doumaye, the UNHCR’s top...Abducted UNHCR staff member released unharmed in SomaliaThe UN refugee agency is pleased to announce the release of Hassan Mohammed Ali, head of UNHCR's office in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, after two months in captivity. Ali, who is also known as Keynaan, is in good health and preparations are underway to reunite him with his family. He was abducted from his home near the Somali capital on June 21 by an unknown armed group. UNHCR would like to thank all Somali organizations and members of civil society who organized demonstrations to call...UNHCR,Red Cross observe refugee cultural dayThe word refugee means someone who has been forced to leave their country, especially during war or for political or religious reasons. To be a refugee does not meant one is without a roof over his or her head or without hope for living a meaningful life or future. There are many circumstances through which a person may a refugee. A special reference is made to the real cause or causes of refugee problems in the Horn of Africa, and in the West African sub-region. We are all living...UNHCR needs more funds to help Southern Sudan refugees go homeThe UN refugee agency has a US$11.9 million shortfall in funding for its Southern Sudan repatriation and reintegration operation which could undermine efforts to repatriate refugees who wish to go home in the second half of this year. "If the current return trend is anything to go by, we could complete repatriation to Southern Sudan by the end of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010, provided we get funding on time for the rest of this year and next," said Mengesha Kebede, UNHCR Africa Bureau... |
