The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported the loss of over $1 million in humanitarian aid following a Russian missile strike on a warehouse in Dnipro, Ukraine, on May 20. The destroyed aid, consisting of 900 pallets, was intended for frontline areas.
The UNHCR estimates that 56 percent of Ukrainian refugees will remain in Europe until 2029, based on assumptions that Russia retains control of occupied territories and temporary protection status ends in March 2027.
UNHCR estimates that in a scenario where Ukraine achieves victory and reclaims occupied territories by year-end, the number of refugees would decrease to 32%.
According to the United Nations, at least 380 people have been killed in Lebanon since the official ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group began. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported this figure from Geneva.
The UNHCR has reported that ongoing conflicts are disrupting maritime traffic, making it more difficult and expensive to deliver humanitarian aid to refugees. Shipping costs for relief supplies have reportedly surged by up to 18 percent.
The UNHCR's Deputy Director for West and Central Africa, Andrew Wyllie, praised Ghana for its adherence to international refugee protection standards and its handling of displaced persons, pledging stronger partnership.
A Superior Council of Magistracy has developed a manual, supported by UNHCR, advising that the detention of migrants at borders should be exceptional and automatic detentions should end, especially fo
The UNHCR has reported that a record number of Rohingya refugees died at sea last year, highlighting the perilous journeys undertaken by the community.
The Ghanaian government, private sector, and development partners are collaborating with UNHCR to boost agribusiness investments, creating economic opportunities for refugees and host communities in northern Ghana.
Queen Letizia of Spain held audiences with representatives from UNHCR and UNICEF to learn about the reality faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Spain.
A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is facing significant challenges, primarily due to ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which Iran argues are a violation of the truce. Disagreements over whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire terms have led to confusion and threats of withdrawal, while US President Trump has also used the situation to criticize NATO allies for their perceived lack of support.
Malaysia has called for addressing the fundamental root causes of the Middle East conflict during a UNHCR meeting and its Prime Minister Anwar has backed Egypt's push for de-escalation as regional tensions intensify.
The UNHCR, along with regional governments and partners, has reaffirmed its commitment to finding long-term solutions for the plight of Burundian refugees.
The UNHCR reports that 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran in less than two weeks since the start of the war, highlighting a severe humanitarian crisis.
UNHCR reports on Nigerian refugees’ return from Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. While thousands are repatriated, over 400,000 remain displaced by insecurity.
Read More: https://punchng.com/1705-nigerian-refugees-returned-in-2026-report/
UNHCR, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have released a revised rescue guide to help governments, shipmasters, and maritime operators respond to refugees and migrants in distress at sea.
The United Nations estimates that 56% of Ukrainian refugees will remain in Europe until at least 2029. This projection highlights the long-term impact of the conflict on displacement.
The UNHCR and the Portuguese Refugee Council (CPR) have stated that many changes to a proposed return law reduce fundamental safeguards for international protection, warning of its significant impact and violation of international law.
The UNHCR has successfully secured $65 million in funding to support refugees in Jordan, though the amount still falls short of the required $215 million.
A document prepared with UNHCR clarifies conditions for administrative detention at the border in Portugal, reinforcing protection for vulnerable individuals, children, and access to legal support.
The UNHCR is conducting various activities in Cox's Bazar, focusing on humanitarian aid and support for refugees. These efforts address the ongoing needs of displaced populations in the region.
The UNHCR has reported a record number of Rohingya refugees died at sea last year, with nearly 900 fatalities. This grim statistic highlights the perilous journeys undertaken by those fleeing persecution.
International donors have pledged billions in humanitarian aid for Sudan, as the country's devastating civil war enters its fourth year. The conflict has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, displacing millions and causing widespread suffering.
A press release from the UNHCR summarized statements made by Marie-Hélène Verney, the UNHCR Representative in Sudan, regarding the crisis in Sudan three years after its onset.
About 3.2 million people have been forced to leave their homes within Iran since the beginning of the war on February 28, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to UNHCR, 270,000 Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since January, with concerns that regional events could trigger larger movements.
• Refugee agency says its facing shortage of funds
• US, Israeli attacks on Iran choke aid corridors, obstructing global relief efforts
GENEVA / ISLAMABAD: The United Nations refugee agency on Friday declared the crisis in the Middle East “a major humanitarian emergency”, and insisted all fleeing civilians should be granted safe passage.
UNHCR said the Middle East crisis — which began on Saturday when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran and has spread since — had already cau...
At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters in Lebanon since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began on Monday, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday. “Conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters,” said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch. “Many more slept in their cars on […]
Hver nat lever millioner af ukrainere i frygt, mens angrebene på landet intensiveres. I UNHCR, FNs Flygtningeorganisation, er vi til stede – men verden må ikke vende blikket væk.
The UNHCR is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its partnership with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), highlighting a decade of collaboration.
Researchers at the University of Ghana have published a study identifying a specific West African gene variant that significantly increases the risk of kidney disease. This finding sheds light on genetic predispositions to the condition within the region.
Approximately 1.6 million Syrians have returned to their home country following the political transition, primarily from neighboring nations. However, only about 4,000 have been repatriated from Germany, according to UNHCR data.
Italy's Ambassador to the UN, Giorgio Marrapodi, met with UNHCR Director Sivanka Dhanapala to discuss humanitarian challenges, reaffirming Italy's commitment to resettlement programs and evacuations.
UNHCR highlights Marwa's inspiring path back into the IT sector, showcasing efforts to bridge the digital divide and empower individuals through technology.
A former player for the Greek football club Panathinaikos is prominently featured in a post by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The UNHCR was founded in 1950 to protect the rights of refugees.
O alto-comissário das ONU para os Refugiados afirma que a solução é "o fim da guerra e a conquista de uma paz duradoura". Mais de um milhão de pessoas no Líbano foram forçadas a sair das suas casas.
The UNHCR and World Food Programme have issued a warning that a lack of funding is jeopardizing the lives of over one million Sudanese refugees in Chad.
The UNHCR is appealing for urgent support for over 200,000 Lebanese refugees, who are arriving exhausted, traumatized, and with few belongings, noting that current funding is less than 30% of what is needed.
An appeal has been filed at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), though specific details regarding the nature or parties involved in the appeal are not provided.
The UNHCR is calling for urgent support as 33,000 Congolese refugees have returned home from Burundi within a month, highlighting a significant humanitarian need.
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations refugee agency has said that between 600,000 and one million Iranian households have been temporarily displaced inside Iran as a result of US-Israeli war against the country.
The UNHCR’s preliminary assessments represent displacement of up to 3.2 million people, and this figure is likely to continue rising as US-Israeli bombing persists, marking a worrying escalation in humanitarian needs, according to Ayaki Ito, UNHCR Director of Emergency and Programme Support ...
Around 3.2 million people have been displaced internally in Iran since the start of the war, according to preliminary estimates by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The UNHCR reports that over three million people have been displaced within Iran, likely due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region.
The UNHCR reports that increased hostilities in the Middle East have led to the displacement of approximately 735,000 people, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in a region with 24.6 million displaced individuals.
With women banned from most jobs in Afghanistan, an embroidery boutique run by 22-year-old Rahima Alavi is a surprising and treasured sight in Bamiyan.
“Spring flowers, tailoring and embroidery,” reads a sign outside Alavi’s small store, which opened in January after a months-long search for work.
“I really feel proud because I can support my family, my parents and three sisters. I can pay the rent,” said Alavi, who was wearing a burgundy coat that had a few pieces of leftover coloured thread stuck to it.
This photograph taken on January 20, 2026 shows Afghan tailoress Rahima Alavi embroidering a scarf at her boutique in Bamiyan. —AFP
Demonstrating her new skills, she guided material through her sewing machine to create delicate silk leaves and flowers.
Alavi is one of more than five million people who have returned to the country since 2023 from Pakistan and Iran, which have been pushing back Afghans after hosting them for decades.
Having grown up in rural Bamiyan province, where she helped her parents with farm work alongside school, the family moved to Iran in 2021.
“In Iran, there were more job opportunities, and there, men and women can work,” she said.
They picked cabbages for a living near the central city of Isfahan, before returning to Afghanistan in 2024.
“My father couldn’t find a job, nor could I or my sisters. I was very hopeless, because there were no jobs in Bamiyan,” she said, her smile fading.
his photograph taken on January 20, 2026 shows Afghan tailoress Rahima Alavi (L) embroidering scarves and clothes at her boutique in Bamiyan. —AFP
Only one per cent of women who returned from Pakistan or Iran have found full-time jobs, while two per cent have a business, according to a survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Alavi struggled for months, before being picked along with 25 other women for embroidery training under a programme backed by the UN refugee agency.
“I started to have hope, and my hope grew bigger with the course,” she said.
‘No work for women’
Alavi was given a range of equipment including a sewing machine, fabric and cash for a solar panel — essential in a country where power cuts are commonplace.
Her teacher, Rayhana Darabi, described Alavi as “very capable, very talented”.
“She was so dedicated that she would not miss anything and learned everything that same day,” said Darabi.
The embroidery teacher lost her job in December when the programme was discontinued, as part of broader aid cuts hitting people across Afghanistan.
Alavi is the only woman from the programme to have successfully opened a business so far, with her best friend’s support, bringing great pride to those around her.
This photograph taken on January 20, 2026 shows Afghan women embroidering scarves and clothes at a boutique in Bamiyan. —AFP
“We were truly very happy. Women in Afghanistan today — not only in Bamiyan but all over the country — face many challenges and rules and regulations,” said her teacher.
The Afghan Taliban authorities rule by a strict interpretation of Islamic law, barring women from the majority of professions while permitting some to work in industries such as handicrafts.
Alavi appealed to donors to restart the training programme. “Because there is no work for women here,” she said.
Last year, women were the majority among nearly 2,400 people trained under UNHCR programmes.
The agency said this month it needed $216m this year to support displaced people and returnees across the country, but its appeal was currently just eight per cent funded.
With opportunities increasingly limited, Alavi encouraged her fellow returnee women to seek out any chance available.
“Don’t sit at home,” said the entrepreneur, surrounded by embroidered dresses, scarves and tablecloths.
Decorated across one of the scarves, which Alavi said she would like to wear, she had embroidered purple butterflies taking flight.