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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.
The International Organization for Migration () and the UN Refugee Agency () have launched a "train-to-hire" program for refugees in the Asia-Pacific region, funded by the Australian Government for an initial 22-month period. This initiative aims to enhance refugee skills and connect them with international job opportunities, addressing labor market gaps and promoting self-reliance. It seeks to strengthen collaboration among UN agencies and facilitate safe migration, leveraging refugees' skills to reduce reliance on irregular routes. Despite significant numbers of skilled refugees, barriers to employment remain, making this targeted training vital for aligning talent with labor needs.
has become the world’s first female Syrian commercial pilot from a refugee background, having officially received her “wings” to fly Boeing 737 jets as a second officer. Flight training is a demanding and competitive process, and only 5 per cent of the world’s pilots are women. Having arrived in the UK ten years ago, Ghazal taught herself English and graduated with a degree in aviation engineering, then completed a 19-month intensive cadet training programme. She advocates for safe legal routes and education for refugees.
±«±·±ő°ä·ˇąó’s programme is empowering young refugees and vulnerable youth like Taima and Touqa with skills and opportunities to build brighter, more resilient futures.
Each year on June 20th, the world honors the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. With the number of forcibly displaced people at a record high and brutal aid funding cuts putting millions of lives at risk, it's crucial to raise our voices and show solidarity. This World Refugee Day, solidarity means not just words but actions —standing up for refugees' right to seek safety and finding solutions to their plight. Above all, it means clearly stating that refugees are not alone and we will not turn our backs.
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.
Jassim, a 103-year-old Syrian, witnessed significant changes and suffered immense loss during the conflict in Syria, including the deaths of three of his children in 2013. He fled to Lebanon with his surviving family, living in harsh conditions as refugees. After nearly 14 years, the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024 allowed Jassim and his family to return to their village, Al-Nahryieh, in April. By May, over half a million Syrians had returned home, though they faced substantial challenges. The UN Refugee Agency () is providing support to assist returnees with housing, legal documents, and livelihood initiatives.
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.
In the heart of , a football tournament organized by offers youth like Basheer a rare sense of connection, purpose, and hope amid hardship.
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.
The lack of available funds and deep uncertainty over the level of donor contributions this year has forced the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) to suspend all medical treatment for refugees in Egypt except emergency life-saving procedures. The suspensions include cancer surgery, chemotherapy, heart surgery and medication for chronic diseases. Among the worst affected will be the over 1.5 million Sudanese in Egypt, escaping what is now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. At present, UNHCR is prioritizing critical life-saving activities and helping the most vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied children and survivors of sexual violence and torture. Yet without an urgent increase in funding, even these programmes are under threat.