This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. By: William Spindler | 20 September 2016 On Monday evening, a fire broke out at the Moria reception centre on th...

"UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes commitments made today at the Paris meeting on migration and asylum. I am encouraged by the announcement of a comprehensive plan of action that will support long-term solutions to the complex issue of mixed migration and help address its root causes, in clo...

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called today for an additional 40,000 resettlement places to be made available for refugees located in 15 priority countries* along the Central Mediterranean route. “These 40,000 resettlement places, which will complement already existing commitments, will be crucial t...

Budapest – UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called on Hungary to improve access for people seeking asylum and to do away with its so-called border “transit zones,” which he said are in effect detention centres. In Budapest, he met Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó and In...

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Since last Friday, UNHCR teams in Libya have been responding to the urgent humanitarian needs in and around Sabratha, a ...

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling on the Government of Hungary to withdraw a package of laws set to be introduced in the Hungarian Parliament that would significantly restrict the ability of NGOs and individuals to support asylum-seekers and refugees. UNHCR is seriously concerned that these p...

Concerned with the ongoing human tragedy in which almost 1,000 refugees and migrants have perished while being smuggled across the Mediterranean this year, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and IOM, the UN Migration Agency, are today appealing to European Union countries for concerted, region-wide actio...

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is appealing to European Union member States urgently to offer relocation places to some 150 rescued persons who remain on board the Italian coast guard vessel ‘Diciotti’. In the meantime, UNHCR urges Italian authorities to allow the immediate disembarkation of those on ...

“The unprecedented appeal that was made on Wednesday, 7 November, by Switzerland’s religious leaders in support of refugees is very much welcomed. This powerful initiative from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Islamic leaders in Switzerland urges stronger refugee protection, making practical sugg...

As winter bites, UNHCR helps the Greek government move vulnerable asylum-seekers from reception centres on the Aegean Islands to shelter on the mainland. LESVOS, Greece – Under a light drizzle, families from various war-torn countries stack duffel bags and battered cases holding all their possess...