Latest news with #UNHCR
Libya Review
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
UNHCR Delivers Emergency Aid to 1,200 Sudanese Refugees in Libya
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to around 1,200 newly arrived Sudanese refugees in the Tajoura district of Tripoli, Libya. In partnership with Libya Aid, the distribution focused on essential non-food items including mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits to meet the basic needs of displaced families fleeing the conflict in Sudan. The UN agency confirmed that distribution efforts are ongoing as the number of Sudanese refugees continues to grow amid deteriorating conditions back home. Humanitarian partners on the ground are working to ensure timely and efficient aid delivery despite growing logistical and financial challenges. This latest support highlights UNHCR's continued commitment to addressing the humanitarian needs of vulnerable refugee communities across Libya, particularly in high-pressure urban areas like Tripoli. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations. Libya's economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya's economy. The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions. The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition. Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges. Tags: Humanitarian AidlibyaRefugeesSudantripoliUNHCR
LBCI
18 hours ago
- Business
- LBCI
MP Gemayel: The Syrian regime is gone, so why are the refugees still in Lebanon?
Kataeb Party leader and MP Samy Gemayel warned that Lebanon is now one of the most overcrowded countries in the world, citing the presence of over 1.7 million Syrian refugees. Speaking at a panel during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest, Hungary, Gemayel highlighted the strain this has placed on Lebanon, a country with a land area of just 10,452 square kilometers and approximately 5 million citizens. He said the refugee population amounts to nearly a 50% increase in the country's original population. "To grasp the scale of the crisis, imagine if France received 32 million additional refugees," he said. Gemayel noted that this situation has persisted for 12 years and argued that the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime removed the justification for Syrian refugees to remain in Lebanon. "What is the excuse today? The regime is gone. Why are the refugees still in Lebanon?" he asked. He called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to reassess its policies regarding the Syrian crisis, emphasizing that the top priority should be securing the refugees' return to their homeland. Gemayel added that the issue does not concern Lebanon alone but also affects Jordan, Turkey, and several European countries.
Libya Observer
a day ago
- General
- Libya Observer
UN reports surge in Sudanese refugees arriving in Libya, warns of looming funding crisis
UN reports surge in Sudanese refugees arriving in Libya, warns of looming funding crisis The United Nations has reported a sharp increase in the number of Sudanese refugees entering Libya, warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis amid a critical funding shortage. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 313,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in Libya since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan — a rise of 256,000 compared to the previous month. In a report issued on Friday, the UNHCR projected that by the end of 2025, the number of Sudanese refugees in need could reach 621,000. This would mark a 40% increase — or 446,000 additional people — compared to figures from November 2024, based on estimates from the 2025 Refugee Response Plan. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also raised the alarm, appealing for $13.5 million in urgent funding to continue providing vital food assistance to Sudanese refugees inside Libya. In a statement, the WFP warned that without immediate financial support, it will be forced to suspend aid to thousands of vulnerable people. 'We will not be able to maintain support to the targeted refugee population unless additional funding is secured,' the agency said. Tags: Sudanees refugees
Libya Review
a day ago
- General
- Libya Review
Libya Hosts Over 313,000 Sudanese Refugees
On Saturday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that approximately 313,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into Libya since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023. This large-scale displacement has added pressure on Libya's already fragile infrastructure and humanitarian systems. According to UNHCR's 2025 Refugee Response Plan, the number of Sudanese refugees in need of assistance in Libya is expected to rise to 621,000 by the end of 2025. This represents a 40% increase compared to previous projections, with 446,000 additional individuals identified as needing urgent humanitarian support since November 2024. The World Food Programme (WFP), which has been providing vital food and cash assistance to Sudanese refugees in Libya, has also issued an urgent appeal for $13.5 million in funding. Without this financial support, the agency warns it will be unable to maintain its operations or deliver essential services to the growing refugee population. In April 2025 alone, the WFP reached 58,456 Sudanese refugees, distributing 602 metric tons of food and providing $64,650 in cash transfers to support their basic needs. The agency emphasized that it requires an additional $5 million to sustain its programs from June through November 2025. The escalating refugee crisis is stretching Libya's limited capacity to absorb and support new arrivals. The vast majority of refugees are entering through Libya's southern border, many in remote areas with limited access to services. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that unless additional support is mobilized, many of these refugees will face food insecurity, lack of shelter, and health risks. UNHCR and WFP are urging the international community to step up support for Libya and the displaced Sudanese population, calling for solidarity and immediate action to avoid further humanitarian deterioration. Tags: libyaRefugeesSudanSudanese WarUNHCR
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sri Lankan refugee remanded on return to Jaffna
A 75-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who returned from India after decades of displacement during the civil war, was on Thursday (May 29, 2025) detained by Sri Lankan authorities at the Palaly airport in the northern Jaffna district, on charges of having left the country without a valid passport. Subsequently, a magistrate court in Mallakam town remanded him to custody for a week, despite him obtaining necessary clearance from relevant agencies and being certified a 'refugee' by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), according to a social media post by senior lawyer and former Jaffna MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who appeared for the man. 'Is this a move by the government to frighten 10k others who've registered to return?' he asked on X. Sri Lanka crisis: Refugees in Tamil Nadu were dreaming of returning to their island nation Apparently responding to the post, which was picked up by local media, Cabinet Minister and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake said the remand was due to the automatic application of law to persons who had emigrated through a 'non-legalised' port. 'This law could have [been] changed after the war easily if concerned people had worked on it,' he said on X, assuring that he had spoken to the subject Minister, and that immediate action would be taken to change the policy. 'This is not government policy,' he said, recalling his visit to refugee camps in India with a colleague in 2007, and his party, the JVP's (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) subsequent efforts to pass a law granting citizenship to 28,500 persons living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. Over the last two years, over 700 refugees who were living in camps have returned to Sri Lanka, according to S. Sooriyakumari, president, OfERR (Organisation for Eelam Refugees' Rehabilitation) Ceylon, a non-profit organisation working with Sri Lankan refugee communities in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. 'Most of them have returned without any issue, so when we heard about this senior person's experience at Palaly, it was concerning. For many years now, our founder S.C. Chandrahasan and our organisation have been asking for a comprehensive package and programme for refugees seeking to return to Sri Lanka and re-start their lives,' Ms. Sooriyakumari told The Hindu. 'A structured policy and a clear programme should be devised in consultation with the law enforcement agencies so there is a shared understanding of this issue,' she added. Also read: Sri Lankan refugees | The long wait for Indian citizenship Nearly 58,000 Sri Lankans, who fled the raging civil war and its aftermath, live across refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. An estimated 40,000 persons live outside the camps and are said to have integrated with the local community. At least 10,000 persons have expressed interest to return to Sri Lanka, Ms. Sooriyakumari said.
