What would you bring if violence or persecution forced you to flee your country? The has worked with photographer Brian Sokol on a refugee portraiture project called The Most Important Thing. Through images and interviews, it reveals some of the anguished decisions refugee families face when they are forced to flee their homes. The most important object Dowla was able to bring with her is the wooden pole balanced over her shoulder. She used it to carry her six children during the 10-day journey to Doro refugee camp in South Sudan.
Displaced Persons and Refugees
Refugees have long said that relying on emergency assistance is not a long-term solution. 's project goal is to build sustainable livelihoods for both refugees and locals.
's global report found that by the end of last year, people displaced by war, persecution, violence and human rights abuses stood at 110 million.
Garin Kaka is one of three "opportunity villages" that form part of an initiative by , together with the Niger government and local leaders, to provide refugees with a more sustainable alternative to living in camps. After being relocated to Garin Kaka, Jamilla met Hamsou after joining the peanut oil cooperative, one of several income-generating projects in the village which UNHCR partner, Action pour le Bien Etre, helped to start up. Jamilla is the president of the cooperative of 20 refugees and local women who work together to produce peanut oil.
welcomes a new law in Kyrgyzstan ensuring all children born in the country, regardless of parent status, will be registered at birth – a positive measure to prevent and resolve statelessness.
explains how despite repeated calls for ceasefires, the fighting between two military factions that erupted in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, quickly spreads to other parts of the country.
The announced the appointment of renowned Saudi actress, singer and public figure, Aseel Omran, as UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador, becoming the first Saudi to take on this role.
The said today that it is planning for an outflow of 860,000 refugees and returnees from Sudan and, with partners, will require US$445 million to support the displaced until October. The updates were made in a preliminary summary of the inter-agency Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan, which was presented to donors today. It will primarily cover immediate support in Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic. The has been drawn up with 134 partners including UN agencies, national and international NGOs and civil society groups.
When the fighters came to her Sudanese village, 50-year-old Aicha Madar fled with her daughter Fatima, joining thousands streaming across the border into eastern Chad. Tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees have escaped the recent uptick of violence in their homeland – numbers that could swell to 270,000 or more. Most are heading to South Sudan and to Chad, countries already grappling with some of the world’s highest hunger levels. and other humanitarians fear a perfect storm, as refugee influx from Sudan’s unrest is compounded by upcoming rains, lean season and a funding crunch.
Sasha, a passionate swimmer, had been training for nine years preparing for the Olympics, until he was derailed by the war in Ukraine. has helped Sasha and his family on the journey to Budapest.
is scaling up to assist people seeking safety in countries neighbouring Sudan, where the fighting looks set to trigger further displacement both within and outside the country. So far, the most significant cross-border movements in the region have been Sudanese fleeing to Chad, and South Sudanese refugees returning to South Sudan. While we have also received reports of people starting to arrive in Egypt, exact numbers are not available at this point. UNHCR is working closely with partners and governments in the region to assess the needs of the newly arrived towards a joint response.
Millions of children are experiencing a surge of preventable diseases because of prolonged drought and conflict in Somalia. Women and children make up more than 80 per cent of the displaced people in Somalia, and they are most affected. by the limited access to and unavailability of water, sanitation and hygiene services and increased risk of waterborne diseases. But only 27 per cent of Somalia’s population have access to essential health care. and its humanitarian partners are noting that the number of IDPs continues to increase due to ongoing conflict, drought-induced displacement and water shortages.
More people are currently displaced within their own countries than ever recorded before due to conflict, violence, disasters and the impact of climate change. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has doubled over the last ten years, with women, children and marginalized groups often facing the greatest impacts. Millions of people have remained trapped in displacement for years, some even for decades. The UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement sets out steps to better resolve, prevent, and address internal displacement crises.
Ola Abu Saleem, has turned her passion for hand-made art into a source of income for her family, by creating beautiful Ramadan decorations and lanterns. Amid their daily struggles, many Palestine refugees in Gaza are finding ways to generate income and share the joy of the month with their communities. is participating in the holy month of Ramadhan through its teachers and training centers by building a sense of community and belonging in among the refugees. At the heart of Ramadan is the concept of charity and giving back to those in need. The practice of zakat, the giving of a portion of one's wealth to those in need, takes on a special significance during this time.
Rouah Abuzamazem works with the Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism Unit in . IOM assists rescued migrants with health assistance, psychosocial support and humanitarian direct assistance such as provision of hygiene kits and clothes. By working closely with the Libyan authorities, particularly with the detention centre management, IOM is also working to enhance living conditions for detained migrants through rehabilitation of the detention centre facilities, human rights training of staff, health assistance, psychosocial support and humanitarian direct assistance.