In Greece, UN envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt shines light on emergency response for thousands of refugees
Mar 17, 2016, at 02:14 pm
New York, Mar 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Angelina Jolie Pitt, the United Nations refugee agency’s special envoy,on Wednesday visited Greece, which has become the main entry point to Europe for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing Syria and other strife torn countries.
Winter poses hazards to child refugees and migrants arriving in Europe: UN
Jan 20, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With children now accounting for more than one in three of the tens of thousands of refugees and migrants flooding into Europe, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday voiced concern at the impact recent sub-zero temperatures and snowy conditions were having on them.
UN calls for regional coordination to aid refugees fleeing Central American violence
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:05 pm
New York, Jan 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday called for urgent regional coordination to help people fleeing deadly violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in the light of plans by the United States to expand its resettlement programme to benefit them.
UN agency urges Jordan to allow 12,000 desperate Syrian refugees stranded at border
Dec 09, 2015, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Amid worsening conditions inside Syria, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday expressed grave concern for nearly 12,000 people trying to flee the country who are now stranded in remote areas along the north eastern Jordanian border, and urged the Government of Jordan to allow them entry, prioritizing admission for the most vulnerable.
Slavery Abolition Day: Ban warns of enslavement, trafficking risks for refugees
Dec 03, 2015, at 03:31 pm
New York, Dec 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With more than 60 million people driven from their homes and millions more crossing borders to seek a better life, the risk of mounting human trafficking and enslavement with all its "horrific abuse" must be confronted, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday.
UN agency launches appeal to protect Palestinian refugees from winter’s weather
Dec 02, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Without international support, thousands of Palestinian refugees could be left in the cold this winter, a United Nations aid agency warned on Tuesday, launching a $2-million ‘Share Your Warmth’ appeal to stave off the rigours of the bitter weather many now face.
Retail company provides $10 million for refugees through UN agency partnership
Nov 26, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Nov 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Tokyo-based Fast Retailing Company Limited, which owns the UNIQLO clothing chain has partnered with the United Nation refugee agency to announce a new agreement to support refugees worldwide, including provision of $10 million in funds and distribution of winter wear for new arrivals in Europe and expanding its internship programme in Japan and abroad.
European border restrictions on refugees, migrants violate human rights: Ban
Nov 25, 2015, at 03:48 pm
New York, Nov 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Balkan States on Wednesday that border restrictions based on a refugee’s or migrant’s nationality infringed human rights, with the United Nations refugee agency reporting that 1,000 people are already stranded, 60 of them on hunger strike and 11 reportedly stitching up their mouths in protest.
European border restrictions endanger refugees especially children: UN agencies
Nov 21, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Nov 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): European restrictions on refugees and migrant movements after last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris, including national profiling, are endangering many, especially children, as the bite of winter takes hold, United Nations agencies warned on Friday, calling on Governments to provide more reception centres and decent accommodation.
Ban warns of misplaced suspicions of Muslim refugees, migrants after terror attacks
Nov 21, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Nov 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As last week's terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut continue to reverberate round the world with calls to restrict refugee and migrant movement in the name of security, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday warned against "misplaced suspicions" about refugees and migrants, especially Muslims, who can help fight violent extremism.
General Assembly elects Filippo Grandi as next UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Nov 19, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, Nov 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Filippo Grandi of Italy was on Wednesday elected by the United Nations General Assembly as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for a period of five years beginning on 1 January 2016.
Worsening weather off coast of Lesvos leads to tragedy for refugees and migrants
Oct 30, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): At least 15 people have died and some 38 others are missing in five incidents involving smuggler boats carrying hundreds of refugees and migrants by sea between Turkey and the Greek islands, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Despite raging conflict, scores of refugees continue to arrive in Yemen by sea: UN
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The ongoing conflict and the widening humanitarian crisis in Yemen has not deterred nearly 70,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants to reach the country by sea causing the Yemini population to 'bear the brunt,' said the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday.
Despite cooler weather, refugee sea arrivals in Greece approach 400,000: UN agency
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that, despite adverse weather conditions, refugee and migrant arrivals in Greece this year are expected to hit the 400,000 mark soon.
UNICEF advocate Orlando Bloom urges protection of refugee and migrant children
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Actor and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Orlando Bloom called for greater protection for tens of thousands of refugee and migrant children on the move in Europe.
UNICEF launches new appeal to support refugee and migrant children in Europe
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:21 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Warning of a "massive" increase in the numbers of children on the move to Europe, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced on Friday that it will be appealing for $14 million to address the needs of migrant and refugee children who have escaped war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Refugees have to be dealt with as human beings, stresses UN official
Sep 09, 2015, at 03:19 pm
New York, Sep 9 (IBNS): Refugees have to be dealt with as human beings, and the broader migrant community, including economic migrants, cannot be dismissed "with a wave of the hand," the top United Nations official dealing with migration said on Tuesday.
UN urges Europe to admit 200,000 refugees from Syria, Iraq and other war zones
Sep 05, 2015, at 03:51 pm
New York, Sep 5 (IBNS): Declaring that Europe is facing "a moment of truth" with hundreds of thousands of people risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea, the head of the United Nations refugee agency on Friday urged the European Union (EU) to admit up to 200,000 asylum-seekers fleeing conflict zones like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ban urges expansion of safe, legal channels of migration
Aug 29, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, Aug 29 (IBNS): In the wake of the grim discovery of the bodies of more than 70 people inside a truck abandoned near Austria’s border with Hungary, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged the world to come together to provide comprehensive responses to migration issues, including tackling smugglers and resolving ongoing conflicts, among other root causes.
UN agency assists Nigeria’s neighbours as violence sparks waves of refugees
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday expressed concern about the escalating violence in and around Nigeria and its impact on the situation of Nigerian refugees in surrounding host countries, including a shrinking humanitarian space in which they can seek asylum.
Almost 400 people rescued in the Mediterranean after fishing boat sinks: UN agency
Aug 07, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS): Almost 400 people have been rescued so far from a vessel which sank off the coast of Libya while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea with an estimated 600 refugees and migrants on board, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Thursday.
South Sudan: UN site in Malakal offers protection to civilians
Jun 10, 2014, at 05:05 pm
New York, Jun 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Monday inaugurated a new site adjacent to its base in Malakal to offer protection for civilians uprooted by conflict and to relieve the congestion inside the world body's compound, which is hosting an estimated 19,000 people.
UN concerned over South Sudanese refugees flooding in Ethiopia
May 07, 2014, at 04:57 pm
New York, May 7 (IBNS): Waves of South Sudanese women and children are fleeing across the Ethiopian border, with more than 11,000 people crossing in the past 72 hours, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday said confirming that UN agencies and humanitarian partners are rushing food and medical supplies to the site.
UN lauds Bulgaria's effort to improve conditions of asylum-seekers
Apr 16, 2014, at 06:11 pm
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency applauded on Tuesday the "significant efforts" made recently by the Bulgarian authorities and their partners to improve living conditions for asylum seekers in the country.
South Sudan: UN reaffirms commitment to protect civilians
Apr 10, 2014, at 05:07 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Wednesday that since the hostilities that erupted between the Government and opposition forces last December, an average of 75,000 civilians have found refuge from violence in UN bases across the country.