United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the German Embassy DAAD and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) celebrated on Tuesday 17 October, the commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative, known as DAFI.

In an effort to invest in the capacities of young refugee and asylum-seekers’ IT talents and entrepreneurs living in Egypt, UNHCR supported the participation of 22 refugees and asylum-seekers in the Techne Summit hosted at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (30 Sep – 1 Oct). The selected refugees were mainly IT professionals, marketers, computer science graduates, computer engineers and entrepreneurs of both genders with an average age of 26. Participants represented different nationalities, including Syrians, South Sudanese, Sudanese, Yemenis and Iraqis.

On the 5th of October, El Gouna Film Festival honoured UNHCR for their work with refugees and asylum-seekers. At a reception organized at UNHCR's honour, celebrities pledged their support to stand #WithRefugees. Dangerous Crossings and other short films were screened at the “Social Impact through Films” panel during the festival

CAR: In Bangassou, the Secretary General voices solidarity and calls for reconciliation

CAR: The Secretary-General requested an increase in MINUSCA force levels by 900 troops.

UNHCR supported Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation in organizing a workshop entitled “Your Voice to Mine” as part of the 15th Istanbul Biennial.

UNHCR started contributing to a series of awareness-raising seminars organized by its partner SGDD targeting members of the press.

Thousands of refugees from Myanmar have been admitted to Bangladesh after spending up to four days stranded near the border. By last night Bangladesh border guards reported that over 6,800 refugees had passed through Anjuman Para border village in Cox’s Bazar district. Thousands more are said to be on their way from Myanmar. The most vulnerable among the new arrivals are bussed from the border to a transit centre near Kutupalong camp. At the centre, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners provide food, water, medical checks and temporary shelter.

Since Sunday night, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh through the Anjuman Para border crossing point in Ukhia district in the country’s south-east. Many say they had initially chosen to remain in their homes in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state despite repeated threats to leave or be killed. They finally fled when their villages were set on fire. The refugees UNHCR staff spoke to yesterday described walking for around a week to reach the Bangladesh border. Some crossed into the country on Sunday night, others throughout Monday in the heat and rain.

UNHCR signs agreements with Ministries of Education in South and West Kordofan states to address critical education gaps.