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Filippo Grandi has devoted more than three decades to easing the suffering of refugees: “My pride after all these years is that the center of this effort of my lifetime has been on people, and especially on the people that suffer most in the world, including refugees.” 

Now, shortly before his term comes to an end, and as more than 117 million people worldwide remain forcibly displaced, the long-serving UN High Commissioner for Refugees is welcoming a rare moment of hope for one of the world’s largest refugee populations. “Home means your house, your family, your friends, your work, your school, and it is fantastic when, like in Syria […] people can go back to their homes. This is what most refugees want.”

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, not only helps those who flee war and persecution, but also those who choose to go home when peace returns. Appearing on Awake at Night for a second time, Filippo Grandi reflects on the dangers of divisive politics, the human cost of painful budget and staff cuts, and shares his hopes and dreams for life after the UN.

The UNHCR is an annual humanitarian honour presented by the to an individual, group or organization that has gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect and assist refugees, displaced and stateless people around the world. The include heroes from Cameroon, Tajikistan, Iraq, Mexico and Ukraine, whose efforts have transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people through evacuation, integration and sustained support for refugees. Watch the with appearances by the regional winners and performances by award-winning artists.

From today until 17 December, the UN Refugee Agency () is hosting the in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting brings together senior government officials and key stakeholders to assess progress in implementing pledges made at the and Forums. This high-level event aims to review global, regional, and country-level stocktaking efforts; strengthen support for refugees and host countries, accelerate pledge implementation through a multi-stakeholder approach; and identify priority areas requiring further action ahead of the 2027 Forum.

One month into the ceasefire, Gaza’s displaced families are experiencing brief relief but remain exposed to the cold and devastation as urgent humanitarian access and shelter support are desperately needed.

In Nigeria’s Gbajimba camp, Shiminenge overcomes disability and displacement, leading advocacy that helped transform the site with accessible shelters, sanitation, and mobility support, restoring dignity for many.

After fleeing panic during an earthquake, Nicaraguan migrant Tamara Baltodano found new purpose in Peru, training to save lives and proving that courage knows no borders.

Eight years after the forced mass displacement of the Rohingya community due to violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, their circumstances continue to deteriorate. Over the past year and a half, 150,000 Rohingya — a mainly Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country — have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, marking the largest influx since 2017. In light of this dire situation, the UN Secretary-General hopes that the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar draws renewed international attention to the urgent need for long-term solutions. Follow the event .

In war-scarred Tigray, displaced families at Maidimu navigate profound loss with dignity, turning survival into renewal through water, art, play, and quiet acts of resilience.

�������䷡��’s programme is empowering young refugees and vulnerable youth like Taima and Touqa with skills and opportunities to build brighter, more resilient futures.

After decades of displacement from violence in eastern DRC, refugees have built thriving farms in Zambia, providing food, income, and jobs for themselves and locals alike.

The Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has seen a surge of Afghan families returning home, driven by Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. In April, around 144,000 Afghans returned, including nearly 30,000 deported individuals. Many, like Ezatullah and his seven children, arrived with few belongings and uncertain futures, having lived in Pakistan for decades. With rising unemployment and poverty in Afghanistan, Ezatullah worries about providing for his family, emphasizing the importance of education for his children. Meanwhile, deportations are also occurring in Iran. The UN Refugee Agency () is offering emergency assistance, urging for , particularly women and children, as funding cuts severely limit their capacity to help those in need.

On April 15, 84 residents from the Areesha camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in northeast Syria began their journey home after more than seven years, assisted by , the UN Refugee Agency. Among them was Shahrzad and her two daughters, aged 7 and 8, who were excited to reunite with their father in Al Mayadin, after he spent two months in Damascus for medical treatment. Shahrzad expressed her long-awaited joy, having fled a military offensive in 2017. Her youngest daughter was born in the camp, and both children have no memories of their parents' hometown. While UNHCR plans to support the return of about 3.5 million Syrian refugees and IDPs by 2025, their efforts face significant obstacles due to drastic cuts to global humanitarian funding, resulting in job reductions and the closure of community centers in Syria.

With support, Sudanese refugees in Birao, Central African Republic, are finding stability through food aid, farming, and education after fleeing conflict.

The conflict in , which started in April 2023, has caused the world's largest displacement crisis. More than 11.5 million people have been displaced within the country, and an additional 3.5 million have fled across borders, including an estimated 930,000 people who have crossed into Chad. The ongoing war threatens to engulf the country and the region, unless a diplomatic way forward can be found. On 15 April 2025, global leaders are meeting in London at a high-level conference to address the escalating humanitarian needs. Find out more on the latest developments in the Sudan crisis.

Tantine Moba's once vibrant eyes now stare vacantly as her husband stirs a small pot over a modest fire outside their hut. The family's meal consists of a simple stew made from cassava leaves and a sliver of salted fish. Their children sit on the ground, learning alongside other displaced kids, soon to clamor for their share of the meal.  At 38, Tantine, a mother of seven, laments, “This stew has neither salt nor oil. We are living a difficult life; we have nothing.” Since being forced to flee their village in August 2022 after a brutal attack, her life has been marked by hardship. Despite recovering from abdominal surgery, she endured a long and painful journey that worsened her infection, leaving her wound still open and her psychological scars deeply present after two years.