Tag: UNHCR
2.5 million people have now fled ‘senseless’ Ukraine war: UN
by Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded two weeks ago, and around two million more have been internally displaced by the “senseless” war, the United Nations said Friday. The UN was planning for four million people fleeing the country following the full-scale Russian invasion which began on February 24. But it said it would be no surprise if that figure shot up, given the scale […]
More than 1.7 million people flee war in Ukraine: UNHCR
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — More than 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, according to the latest data from the United Nations on Monday. – 1,735,068 refugees – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, recorded 1,735,068 refugees on its dedicated website, just over 200,000 more than the previous count on Sunday. UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, believes around half of them are youngsters. Authorities and the UN […]
US announces $54 mn in aid for Ukraine
The United States said Sunday it is sending nearly $54 million in new humanitarian aid to Ukraine as it grapples with the Russian invasion. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is focused on Ukraine’s “urgent humanitarian needs as an important part of our response to Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified attack.” This new assistance to be channelled through NGOs includes “provision of food, safe drinking water, shelter, emergency health care, winterization and protection,” […]
SC chief justice says no reason for foreign countries to interfere in PHL internal affairs
(Eagle News) — Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin said there is no need for foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs, including the judicial determination of alleged human rights abuses in the Philippine government’s drug war. In a chance interview with reporters on Friday (July19), Bersamin said that on the issue of the Iceland resolution being approved by 18 countries of the 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), this seemed like a […]
Duterte: Iceland, other countries which voted for resolution on drug war don’t understand PHL problems
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said that Iceland and the other countries which supported and voted for the resolution seeking a comprehensive review and report on his government’s war on drugs do not really understand the problems ailing the Philippines. The 73-year old Philippine leader, known for his acerbic tongue, did not mince words in criticizing Iceland in particular which authored the resolution that was approved by 18 countries of the 47-member council. […]
Locsin says validity of UNHCR resolution pushing report on Duterte drug war “highly questionable”
14 states , including Philippines, reject Iceland-authored resolution (Eagle News) – The Philippines, along with 13 other countries, rejected a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution pushed by Iceland and other Western nations that sought a comprehensive written report on the Philippine drug war under President Rodrigo Duterte. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr was scathing in his statement read after the UN human rights body voted in favor of a draft resolution pushed by […]
Record 70.8 million people displaced at end of 2018: UN
by Agnès PEDRERO Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — More than 70 million people were counted last year as displaced from their homes, a record that underestimates the real number of refugees and asylum seekers, the UN said Wednesday. In its annual global trends report, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) described the figure of 70.8 million at the end of 2018 as “conservative”, particularly because the number of people who fled Venezuela’s […]
Aid convoy quits Syria enclave as regime presses onslaught
by Hasan Mohamed with Rim Haddad in Damascus Agence France-Presse DOUMA, Syria – An international convoy cut short its mission to Syria’s rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Monday after delivering desperately needed aid as the regime pounded the region, killing dozens as it seized more ground. At least 68 civilians were killed Monday, a monitor said, while the United Nations reported dozens of trucks carrying aid had reached the main town of Douma. The government removed medical […]
UN draft report: No to death penalty; allow UN Rapporteur’s probe without conditions
Universal Periodic Review draft makes 257 recommendations (Eagle News) — The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) working group on periodic reviews has made a draft report recommending that the Philippines allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur to probe the human rights situation in the country without conditions, and for the country not to reimpose the death penalty. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UNHRC’s working group was presented by Switzerland, Paraguay and […]
Record 65 million people displaced worldwide: UN
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The number of people displaced worldwide has hit a new record, with 65.3 million people forced from their home as of the end of 2015, the UN said Monday. “This is the first time that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed,” the UN refugee agency said. The figures, released on World Refugee Day, underscore twin pressures fuelling an unprecedented global displacement crisis. As conflict and persecution force growing numbers […]
UN says Syria’s neighbours now host 4 million refugees
(REUTERS) The number of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries has passed 4 million, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Thursday (July 9). UNHCR said that the total was on course to reach 4.27 million by the end of 2015. Some 630,000 Syrians are now living in Jordan, according to the UNHCR figures. But having escaped their war-torn homes, many of the refugees have found their new lives a struggle. According to the UNHCR […]
