Latest news with #UNRefugeeAgency
DW
11 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
UNHCR reports record displacement in West and Central Africa – DW – 06/20/2025
Nearly 13 million people have been uprooted from their homes in West and Central Africa. The UN Refugee Agency blames migration trends and conflict for creating a "perfect storm" of mass displacement. About 12.7 million forcibly displaced and stateless people are in West and Central Africa, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). "From conflict to climate shocks, protection risks are rising — particularly for women and children, who represent 80% of the the forcibly displaced," said Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, the UNHCR's regional bureau director for West and Central Africa. Gnon-Konde said the UN's data also showed that displaced people are "returning home in increasing numbers where conditions allow." Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Cameroon are home to about 80% of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. Drought, flooding, and chronic violence and insecurity have forced people to seek shelter in other regions within their countries. According to the United Nations, more than 194,200 internally displaced persons returned to their homes in Mali from April through January 2025, and 64,700 in the Central African Republic UN-sponsored voluntary returns Chad is providing refuge to almost 780,000 people who have fled Sudan's civil war, with another 250,000 expected to arrive by the end of the year. The country also hosts large numbers of refugees from the Central African Republic to the south and Niger to the west. Each group of displaced people faces unique dangers, and Chad is struggling to host all of them. The United Nations has been sponsoring voluntary returns to countries of origin within West Africa. Eleven thousand refugees returned to countries such as Nigeria, the Central African Republic and Mali from January through April 2025. "Humanitarian crises are, first of all, political crises," Alpha Seydi Ba, a UNHCR spokesperson based in Dakar, Senegal, told DW. "Unless we are able to make peace, there won't be a situation where the returns are possible." Ba said repatriations were carried out whenever and wherever possible and on a voluntary basis. As a result, the UNHCR says resettlement departures rose by 34% in 2024 (4,000 individuals). Repatriation often means relative safety has been achieved in refugees' home countries Image: Elena Lauriola/UNHCR "I think it's always good news when people are able to go back home," Ba said. "Exile, it's not a choice. Being a refugee is not a choice, when someone leaves their home and everything behind." "We're seeing those people returning and rebuilding," Ba said. "I think it's one of the best things that can happen in the humanitarian person in his career." 'Migrants become stranded' Though repatriation efforts have yielded some positive results, the UN's regional resettlement quota has been reduced by 64% in 2025. To complicate matters, the UNHCR's regional budget overall has been reduced by 50% between 2024 and 2025. "Our operations are very severely impacted," Ba said. "Meaning less food, less shelter, less health care, less clean water, less gender-based protection, which makes overall protection systems or displaced people more fragile," Ba added. "That's why the UNHCR in the region is at a tipping point." "The number of migrants, be it internally displaced people or migrants, is increasing," Luisa de Freitas, who leads the Regional Data Hub in Dakar for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told DW. "We are seeing that, overall, more and more people are on the move." Though many people move to foreign countries because of climate disasters, armed conflict or instability, the IOM reports that economic needs are also a key driver of migration. Chad 'opened the doors to all the refugees from Sudan' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Over 70% to 72% of the individuals that we survey at our flow monitoring points in 2024 were there because of labor or economic reasons," de Freitas said. De Freitas said migration routes had become increasingly dangerous as EU nations and their partners within Africa have sought to stem the flow of migration to Europe. However, this has not deterred migrants from attempting to do so. "People move when they feel they have no other option," de Freitas said. "They will take routes that are less and less traveled. So what is happening is that a lot of these migrants become stranded." New strategies needed Simply putting up barriers or investing in forced removals of migrants is not the solution. Instead, de Freitas advised European nations to adopt a different approach that fosters and incentivizes regular migration, benefiting both home and destination countries. "Spain has just launched two initiatives: one to regularize migrants per year, and they've also launched system where Senegalese can apply for temporary travel visas to go and work in Spain," de Freitas said. Many EU countries desperately need workers in sectors such as agriculture, she added. "Circular migration allows migration on a temporary basis to address labor shortages in destination countries, while providing migrants with access to employment and education opportunities. "Basically, try to make migration a win-win situation for both ends," de Freitas said. Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
DW
a day ago
- Politics
- DW
Israeli strikes mean new peril for Afghan refugees in Iran – DW – 06/19/2025
As Israeli strikes intensify, Afghan refugees in Iran find themselves in danger once again — stuck in a country that is no longer safe with no way to return home. The impact of the conflict between Iran and Israel is being felt by Afghans both inside their homeland and across the border in Iran. The fighting is exacerbating the already dire conditions in Afghanistan, where prices for Iranian imports have surged. Meanwhile, millions of Afghans who once fled to Iran in search of safety are now facing renewed uncertainty and pressure from officials as the armed conflict escalates. "We have no place to live," Afghan refugee Rahela Rasa told DW. "Our freedom of movement has been stripped from us," Rasa said. "We're harassed, insulted and abused." Afghans' lives go from bad to worse The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that nearly 4.5 million Afghan nationals reside in Iran. Other sources suggest that the number could be much higher. Iran had taken steps to deport thousands of Afghans in recent years. However, Afghans continue to arrive, seeking employment or refuge from the Taliban regime. In the years following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have dismantled the media and civil society, targeted former security personnel and imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, banning them from work and education. Conditions have also deteriorated for Afghans living in Iran. The refugees are only allowed to buy food at highly inflated prices and are banned from leaving Tehran. Tehran gridlocked as thousands try to flee Israeli strikes To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A refugee told DW that she couldn't buy formula for her baby. "Everywhere I go, they refuse to sell it to me because I don't have proper documents," she said, requesting anonymity. 'My heart is broken' With Afghans in Iran seeing bombs flying overhead, their new country no longer offers even a semblance of safety. And some of them have already been kiled in strikes. DW spoke to Abdul Ghani from Afghanistan's Ghor province, whose 18-year-old son Abdul Wali recently completed school and moved to Iran to support his family. "On Monday, I spoke to my son and asked him to send us some money," Ghani said. "Last night, his employer called to inform me he had been killed in an attack." "My heart is broken," Ghani said. "My son is gone." No way home for many Afghans Returning to Afghanistan is not a viable option for most Afghan refugees, who fear persecution under the Taliban regime. A former member of Afghanistan's security forces, speaking anonymously, said he lived in constant fear. "We cannot return to Afghanistan," he said. "The Taliban would prosecute us." Mohammad Omar Dawoodzai, former Afghan interior minister and ambassador to Iran under the previous government, told DW that the international community must act to protect former officials and civil servants who may be forced to return to Afghanistan if the Israel-Iran conflict drags on. Fear deepens in Tehran as Israel targets Iran's capital To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "I am particularly concerned about former military and government employees who fled to Iran after the Taliban takeover," Dawoodzai said. "The international community must hold the Taliban accountable and ensure returnees are not subjected to persecution." Migrant advocate urges refugees to stay put Human-smuggling networks appear to be exploiting the desperation of Afghan refugees. Rumors have circulated suggesting that Turkey has opened its borders for passage. But Ali Reza Karimi, a migrant rights advocate, dismissed the claims of open borders as false information spread by smugglers. Flights are suspended, and, he said, Turkey's border is only open to Iranian citizens and travelers with valid passports and visas and remains closed to Afghan migrants. Karimi urged Afghan refugees not to fall for the smugglers' lies or walk into their traps. "I've been informed that smugglers are telling refugees to head toward Turkey, claiming the borders are open," Dawoodzai said. "This creates yet another tragedy. They go there only to find the borders closed." Dawoodzai urged Afghan refugees in Iran to stay where they are for now, if possible. "As much as they can, our people should remain where they are and wait patiently. And if, for any reason, they are forced to move, they should head toward the Afghan border — not Turkey," he stated. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
DW
a day ago
- Politics
- DW
Trapped in Iran: Afghan refugees face new crisis – DW – 06/19/2025
As the Iran-Israel conflict intensifies, Afghan refugees in Iran find themselves in danger once again — stuck in a country that is no longer safe with no way to return home. The impact of the conflict between Iran and Israel is being felt by Afghans both inside their homeland and across the border in Iran. The fighting is exacerbating the already dire conditions in Afghanistan, where prices for Iranian-imported goods have surged, putting its frail economy under further strain. Meanwhile, millions of Afghan refugees in Iran — who once fled in search of safety and a better life — are now facing renewed uncertainty and pressure from officials as the armed conflict escalates. "We have no place to live," Afghan refugee Rahela Rasa told DW. "Our freedom of movement has been stripped from us. We're harassed, insulted, and abused," she added. Afghans' lives go from bad to worse The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that nearly 4.5 million Afghan nationals currently reside in Iran. Other sources suggest the actual number could be much higher. Iran had taken steps to deport thousands of Afghans in recent years. However, many new refugees continue to arrive seeking employment or refuge from the Taliban regime. In the years following the US withdrawal in 2021, the Taliban have dismantled the media and civil society, targeted former Afghan security personnel and imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, banning them from work and education. At the same time, conditions have also deteriorated for Afghans living in Iran. The refugees are only allowed to buy food at highly inflated prices and are banned from leaving Tehran. Tehran gridlocked as thousands try to flee Israeli strikes To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A refugee told DW she couldn't buy formula for her baby. "Everywhere I go, they refuse to sell it to me because I don't have proper documents," she said, requesting anonymity. 'My heart is broken' With Afghans in Iran seeing bombs flying overhead, their new country no longer offers even a semblance of safety. And some of them have already lost their lives in the fighting. DW spoke to Abdul Ghani from Afghanistan's Ghor province, whose 18-year-old son Abdul Wali recently completed school and moved to Iran to support his family. "On Monday, I spoke to my son and asked him to send us some money," said Ghani. "Last night, his employer called to inform me he had been killed in an attack." "My heart is broken. My son is gone." No way home for many Afghans Returning to Afghanistan is not a viable option for most Afghan refugees, who fear persecution under the Taliban regime. A former member of Afghanistan's security forces, speaking anonymously, said he lives in constant fear. "We cannot return to Afghanistan. The Taliban would prosecute us," he said. Mohammad Omar Dawoodzai, former Afghan interior minister and ambassador to Iran under the previous government, says the international community must act to protect former Afghan officials and civil servants who may be forced to return to Afghanistan if the Israel-Iran conflict drags on. Fear deepens in Tehran as Israel targets Iran's capital To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "I am particularly concerned about former military and government employees who fled to Iran after the Taliban takeover," said Dawoodzai. "The international community must hold the Taliban accountable and ensure returnees are not subjected to persecution." Migrants rights advocate urges refugees to stay put Amid the growing chaos, human smuggling networks appear to be exploiting the desperation of Afghan refugees. Rumors have circulated suggesting that Turkey has opened its borders for passage. But Ali Reza Karimi, a migrant rights advocate, dismissed the claims of open borders as false information spread by smugglers. He explained that due to suspended flights, the Turkish border is only open to Iranian citizens and travelers with valid passports and visas and remains closed to Afghan migrants. Karimi urged Afghan refugees not to fall for the smugglers' lies or walk into their traps. "I've been informed that smugglers are telling refugees to head toward Turkey, claiming the borders are open. This creates yet another tragedy. They go there only to find the borders closed," Mohammad Omar Dawoodzai told DW. He urged Afghan refugees in Iran to stay where they are for now, if possible. "As much as they can, our people should remain where they are and wait patiently. And if, for any reason, they are forced to move, they should head toward the Afghan border — not Turkey," he stated. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Broken teaset mended with gold tells the story of refugees
This Refugee Week, UK for UNHCR has collaborated with renowned sculptor and artist, Billie Bond, to create a one-of-a-kind tea set to give form to the experiences of refugees through the art of Kintsugi. 'Fragments of Hope', the latest campaign from the UN Refugee Agency's national charity for the UK, is a celebration of the creativity, resilience and contribution of people who have rebuilt their lives in the UK after being forced to flee conflict and persecution. There are now more than 122 million people displaced by conflict and persecution worldwide. The Japanese art of Kintsugi, meaning to mend with gold, repairs pottery by acknowledging its fractures and transforming them into something beautiful. The artwork has been created by bringing together fragments of traditional tea sets from Ukraine, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan, including personal contributions by people who were forced to flee their countries. The fragments reflect the diverse journeys of Viktoriia from Ukraine, a dedicated community development coordinator; Ayman from Syria, a self-taught filmmaker and storyteller; Sadia from Pakistan, an award-winning artist and advocate; Bashir from Sudan, a renowned poet and musician; and mother and daughter duo, Frozan and Victoria from Afghanistan, who support their community as an interpreter and an aspiring business leader. Billie Bond said: 'Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese art of repairing with gold. It has long been recognised as a powerful symbol of resilience, and a reminder that beauty can be found in imperfection. This Refugee Week, Kintsugi once again serves as a meaningful metaphor, celebrating the strength and resilience of refugees and the ritual of healing – it's been an honour to play a small part in bringing these stories to life.' Emma Cherniavsky, Chief Executive of UK for UNHCR, said: 'Fragments of Hope is a moving representation of how, even after the deepest fractures, refugees can rebuild their lives and futures with strength, dignity and hope."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Broken teaset mended with gold tells the story of refugees
Broken teaset mended with gold tells the story of refugees Fragments of Hope is the latest campaign from UK for UNHCR This Refugee Week, UK for UNHCR has collaborated with renowned sculptor and artist, Billie Bond, to create a one-of-a-kind tea set to give form to the experiences of refugees through the art of Kintsugi. 'Fragments of Hope', the latest campaign from the UN Refugee Agency's national charity for the UK, is a celebration of the creativity, resilience and contribution of people who have rebuilt their lives in the UK after being forced to flee conflict and persecution. There are now more than 122 million people displaced by conflict and persecution worldwide. The Japanese art of Kintsugi, meaning to mend with gold, repairs pottery by acknowledging its fractures and transforming them into something beautiful. The artwork has been created by bringing together fragments of traditional tea sets from Ukraine, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan, including personal contributions by people who were forced to flee their countries. The fragments reflect the diverse journeys of Viktoriia from Ukraine, a dedicated community development coordinator; Ayman from Syria, a self-taught filmmaker and storyteller; Sadia from Pakistan, an award-winning artist and advocate; Bashir from Sudan, a renowned poet and musician; and mother and daughter duo, Frozan and Victoria from Afghanistan, who support their community as an interpreter and an aspiring business leader. Article continues below Billie Bond said: 'Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese art of repairing with gold. It has long been recognised as a powerful symbol of resilience, and a reminder that beauty can be found in imperfection. This Refugee Week, Kintsugi once again serves as a meaningful metaphor, celebrating the strength and resilience of refugees and the ritual of healing – it's been an honour to play a small part in bringing these stories to life.' Emma Cherniavsky, Chief Executive of UK for UNHCR, said: 'Fragments of Hope is a moving representation of how, even after the deepest fractures, refugees can rebuild their lives and futures with strength, dignity and hope." The 'Fragments of Hope' tea set will be available for one competition winner to rehome here.
