Latest UNHCR News & Updates

Tripoli, June 4 (IANS) Hundreds of Libyan protesters on Thursday afternoon shut down the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tripoli, driven by concerns over what they described as the “settlement” of irregular migrants inside the country, according to local media reports and eyewitnesses.The demonstrators gathered outside the agency’s headquarters in central Tripoli, chanting for the deportation of irregular migrants and rejecting any arrangements that could l…

Geneva, May 22 (IANS) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk on Friday warned against the continued forced repatriation of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers from host countries to Afghanistan, calling it a violation of international human rights and refugee law. “Afghan women, children and men continue to be pushed out of countries where they had sought safety, forcing them to return to Afghanistan against their will and exposing them to grave risk,” said Turk.Accord…

Islamabad, May 21 (IANS) Pakistani police have arrested Afghan journalist Parwiz Aminzada in Islamabad during ongoing enforcement actions against Afghan citizens, local media reported on Thursday. Local sources revealed that Aminzada was arrested in the Faisal Town area of Islamabad on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported. Authorities have not yet released any statement which reveals the reasons for his arrest.In recent months, Pakistani authorities hav…

Kabul, May 6 (IANS) Afghanistan’s High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Problems has urged international organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to hold talks with Pakistan so that Afghan nationals do not face difficulties. It also urged to ensure that the refugees do not face harassment, enabling their swift return. The commission stressed that issues of Afghan refugees should be addressed as a matter of urgency. It stated that Afghan refugees entering Afg…

Geneva, May 2 (IANS) The Middle East crisis has generated far-reaching ripple effects well beyond the region, with growing consequences for global humanitarian supply chains and the delivery of aid, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson warned.Heightened insecurity and instability around key Gulf routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have disrupted maritime traffic. Rising fuel, food and freight costs worldwide are driving up prices and delaying the delivery of…

Dushanbe, March 18 (IANS) Tajikistan on Wednesday dispatched 3,610 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Iran in a 110-truck convoy. “Tajikistan’s humanitarian aid comprises 3,610 tonnes of cargo, including 45 tonnes of medicines, a large volume of sanitary and hygiene products, children’s clothing, various food products, household items, bedding, tents, building materials, and other necessary supplies,” the country’s Foreign Ministry stated. Last week, citing preliminary assessments, UN Refugee Agency …

Kabul, Jan 18 (IANS) Taliban has said that the problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are rising and stressed that Pakistani government should respect refugee rights and stop arresting and harassing Afghan migrants, local media reported on Sunday. “Unfortunately, problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are increasing, with arrests, harassment, and mistreatment by Pakistani officials on the rise, leaving refugees in serious difficulty,” Pajhwok Afghan News quoted Taliban deputy spoke…

Kabul, Jan 16 (IANS) A leading Afghan media watchdog has expressed deep concern over the repeated arrest of Afghan journalists in Pakistan and demanded immediate release of three detained reporters, local media reported on Friday. In a statement, Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) said that two journalists were arrested in Islamabad while another was arrested in Peshawar, Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported. The names of journalists who have been arrested in Pakist…