UNHCR welcomes US decision on refugee resettlement
30/9/2023: The UN Refugee Agency commends the United States for its decision to admit up to 125,000 refugees for resettlement over the fiscal year beginning October 2023, doubling the previous allocation. The Agency estimates that currently over 2 million refugees are in need of resettlement globally.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
EU Commission ignores Tunisia’s abuses against migrants
28/9/2023: The European Union Commission has announced it will go ahead with a controversial deal that pledges financial support to Tunisia, effectively in exchange for preventing boats carrying migrants and asylum seekers from departing for Europe. The release of 67 million euros has been agreed despite an absence of any specific human rights guarantees.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Over 4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants need support
12/9/2023: Vast numbers of migrants and refugees from Venezuela continue to face difficulties accessing food, shelter, health care, education and formal employment across Latin America and the Caribbean. Many are at risk of human trafficking, forced recruitment and gender-based violence.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
UK spending on refugees may no longer count as aid
26/7/2023: In 2022 the UK diverted 29% of its overseas development assistance budget to pay the hotel and other bills for asylum-seekers. Its new Illegal Migration Act - which threatens to detain and deport asylum-seekers - may put a stop to this accounting practice.
Source: Devex
Global refugee resettlement needs grow in 2024
26/6/2023: The UN Refugee Agency anticipates that over 2.4 million refugees will be in need of resettlement next year, a 20 per cent increase compared to 2023. In 2022, out of approximately 116,000 submissions, only 58,457 refugees were able to depart for resettlement.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
The EU must not be complicit in the loss of lives at sea
16/6/2023: After the latest tragedy close to the Greek coast, human rights organizations have called for an end to rights violations at Europe’s borders. Some EU states have drastically reduced search and rescue capacity at sea, limiting prospects of prompt and effective assistance for migrants in distress.
Source: Human Rights Watch
UN reports forced displacement of 110 million people in 2022
14/6/2023: According to the UN Refugee Agency's 2022 report, 35.3 million displaced individuals were categorized as refugees, having crossed international borders. A larger portion — 58% and representing 62.5 million people — were displaced within their own countries. The war in Ukraine caused the largest refugee outflow since World War II.
Source: DW
UN agency for Palestine refugees close to financial collapse
2/6/2023: Chronic underfunding over the past decade has put the lifesaving programmes of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees at risk. Nearly six million people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, depend on its services.
Source: UN News
Sudan refugee response estimates need for $445 million
4/5/2023: In a preliminary projection for financial and operational planning, the UN Refugee Agency anticipates an outflow of 860,000 refugees and returnees from the conflict in Sudan. Egypt and South Sudan are expected to see the most arrivals.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
UN Refugee Agency appeals for aid for Afghan refugees
14/3/2023: The UN Refugee Agency has launched an appeal for $613 million to support over 5 million Afghans sheltering in five neighbouring countries. An estimated 1.6 million have arrived in the region since 2021.
Source: UN Refugee Agency