As Abdoulaye collapsed under a desert tree, his priorities shifted when he encountered neighbors fleeing from militia attacks. They had found two small children whose mother was killed, leaving them abandoned. Abdoulaye, determined not to leave the terrified children behind, welcomed them and continued his escape with his wife, Hawaye. After the conflict in Sudan escalated in April 2023, Abdoulaye and Hawaye sent three children to safety in Chad. Upon arriving at Arkoum refugee camp, in eastern Chad, they found their children, who embraced their new siblings. Now, Abdoulaye and Hawaye participate in a foster family program by the Jesuit Refugee Service, supported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which includes eight other refugee families in Arkoum and 55 in the Hadjer Hadid region.

As Abdoulaye collapsed under a desert tree, his priorities shifted when he encountered neighbors fleeing from militia attacks. They had found two small children whose mother was killed, leaving them abandoned. Abdoulaye, determined not to leave the terrified children behind, welcomed them and continued his escape with his wife, Hawaye. After the conflict in Sudan escalated in April 2023, Abdoulaye and Hawaye sent three children to safety in Chad. Upon arriving at Arkoum refugee camp, in eastern Chad, they found their children, who embraced their new siblings. Now, Abdoulaye and Hawaye participate in a foster family program by the Jesuit Refugee Service, supported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which includes eight other refugee families in Arkoum and 55 in the Hadjer Hadid region.

Esneda Saavedra is a member of the Yukpa people, who have lived in the Serranía del Perijá mountain range on the Colombia-Venezuela border for centuries. In recent decades, conflicts, forced displacement, resource exploitation, and climate change have threatened their way of life. Born in the Sokorpa reserve, Esneda was influenced by her mother, a traditional authority, and felt compelled to lead from a young age. “I was born to defend our land and people,” she affirms. The Yukpa have faced violence and displacement since colonial times, and when Esneda was eight, her father was murdered by armed groups exploiting their ancestral territory. She has faced threats herself for advocating for her community.

The Global Alliance to End Statelessness was launched at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) meeting in Geneva, building on the #IBelong campaign to foster collaboration among stakeholders and address the urgent issue of statelessness worldwide.

Five trailblazing women – a nun, an activist, a social entrepreneur, a volunteer aid worker, and an advocate for ending statelessness – are being honoured today as winners of the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen  Award honours individuals, groups and organizations who have taken extraordinary action to protect refugees, as well as internally displaced and stateless people. The ceremony will be live-streamed on UNHCR's YouTube channel at 19:30 CEST.

Since 2016, Burkina Faso has been experiencing political instability and violent conflict, leading to over 2 million internally displaced people and more than 200,000 refugees in neighboring countries. Maimouna Ba's organization, Femmes pour la Dignite du Sahel (Women for the Dignity of the Sahel), has offered since 2020 school fees for displaced children and skills training for displaced women. She collected donations, rallied support and encouraged volunteers to join her. Since then, her Un Enfant, Un Parrain (One Child, One Sponsor) programme has matched vulnerable children with individual sponsors who contribute towards their school fees.

The ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon have forced tens of thousands of individuals to flee from the southern regions, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, seeking safety in areas like Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the North. 

As many continue to search for housing and shelter, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is actively responding to the crisis, focusing on the needs of both affected Lebanese communities and refugees. Key priorities include providing safe shelter, core relief items, healthcare, cash assistance, and protection services to ensure the well-being of those impacted by the violence.

Guillaume Junior Atangana's historic third-place finish in the men’s 400m at the Paris Paralympics, exemplifies the resilience and triumph of the Refugee Paralympic Team and the power of sport to inspire hope among refugees.

Refugee athlete Cindy Ngamba secured the first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team, after she triumphed in her quarterfinal bout and guaranteed herself a bronze medal. 

“For me, every time I meet them, I tell them: Don't lose hope, you are not going to be a refugee forever. One day you'll go home, and you can use the skills you have learned here. So, any opportunity you have, learn.” 

Growing up as a refugee in Burundi, Juliette Murekeyisoni dedicated herself to helping others from an early age. In her recent role as UNHCR’s deputy representative in South Sudan, she continued to keep hope alive by encouraging refugees to focus on their education and long-term perspectives.

South Sudan hosts around 330,000 refugees as well as 2 million others internally displaced due to conflict, insecurity and the impact of climate change. In this episode of Awake at Night, recorded on 20 June 2024, Juliette Murekeyisoni reflects on improving prospects of those forced to flee, on her own traumatic experiences during the Rwandan genocide, and on a life touched by the kindness of strangers.

Photo: ? UNHCR/Mary Sanyu Osire

Perina Nakang, an 800-meter runner, is among the 37 athletes representing the International Olympic Committee Refugee Olympic Team at the Paris Games. Fleeing conflict at age seven, she found refuge in Kenya’s Kakuma camp, where she also discovered her passion for sports. Now, Nakang is set to compete with the aim of achieving her personal best, embodying the resilience and determination of athletes overcoming adversity.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants risk their lives on routes that extend from the East and Horn of Africa and West Africa, towards North Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and Europe. Much attention is focused on the dangers they face attempting the perilous Mediterranean Sea crossing. But before they reach the shore, many endure extreme and repeated violence and abuse on land. A new data visualization ("Death in the Desert") draws on interviews with more than 31,000 refugees and migrants to map those routes and the most common dangers refugees and migrants face on them. 

UNHCR issues stark warning as forced displacement reaches alarming levels, urging global action to prevent apathy and inaction.

"Thread of Hope" is an animated short film showcasing the resilience and creativity of refugee women, emphasizing empowerment through craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

Refugee entrepreneur Raphael transforms Kakuma camp in Kenya through plastic recycling, creating jobs and fostering environmental sustainability.