Physical barriers and restrictive policies in Hungary have resulted in effectively denying access to territory and asylum for those in need of international protection.

So far over 85,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled to Sudan in 2017, for a total of nearly 380,000 refugees now living in Sudan since December 2013.

UNHCR and partners are expanding and scaling-up reception services to meet increased demand from the high influx of new arrivals to Sudan.

The voluntary relocation of refugees to a new site at Al Nimir in East Darfur began 3 April 2017, with biometric registration upon arrival.

1,496 Burundian refugees were in transit centers while around 1,990 individuals stayed outside due to lack of space. Most of them were women, children and older people.

An evaluation of the 23,203 seedlings planted since 2015 in Lusenda camp assessed that 64% of them were growing well, thanks to sensitization sessions.

The “Heya” Campaign was launched on March 19, 2017 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina by UNHCR Alexandria Field Office in collaboration with the General Collections and Services Department at the Depository Library Section. The event opened with speeches by the organizers and partners of the Heya Campaign. Aseer Al Madaien, Head of UNHCR Alexandria Office spoke about this year's UN theme “Women in a Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030” and UNHCR’s theme for 2017 "UNHCR supports women's right to decent work." "Women’s rights are human rights," Al Madaien said. "UNHCR believes that empowerment of women and girls economically and socially is the only means by which to protect their rights and guarantees that they achieve their potential.

UNHCR Egypt hosted the Refugee and Egyptian Women’s Business Fair at the Greek Campus on March 18, 2017. There was a huge selection of art, jewelry, clothes and accessories combined with various delicious types of cuisines from Ethiopia, Syria and Sudan offered by over 85 participants. The event was held to mark International and National Women’s Day, and furthermore to recognize and celebrate women’s socio-economic empowerment and their relentless and important contribution to the economic development of Egypt.

Latest shipwreck in the Mediterranean comes as a stark reminder of the vital importance of robust search and rescue capacities.

Saving lives at sea must remain key priority. UNHCR commends the action of the Italian Coast Guard in coordination with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.