Many humanitarian operators working for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR have first-hand experience of being forced to flee their homes. One example is Mohamed, who fled from Mali to Mauritania and today works as a communications assistant for UNHCR in his country. Oleksandra, who was forced to flee twice, also currently works at UNHCR -- in Dnipro, Ukraine.
A police officer shot a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor several times with a submachine gun in front of a youth welfare facility in the German city of Dortmund. The shooting has prompted protests and questions in Germany.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that nearly 50,000 migrants have voluntarily returned to their countries of origin in 2021, an increase of 18% compared to 2020.
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have already faced years of unrest and climate distress. But growing food insecurity and conflict have compounded pressures, raising concerns in Brussels and Geneva about an increase in attempts to reach Europe.
The EU and Niger have announced plans to work together more closely to bring an end to the activities of people smugglers. A new initiative launched last week is intended to deepen the cooperation between the two. This comes as Niger's role in combatting terrorism in the region is also increasing.
The Malian government has confirmed that 22 Malians, including three children, died off the coast of Libya when their boat got into trouble towards the end of June.
UNHCR has launched a music campaign on social media giant TikTok to promote solidarity with refugees. The initiative is aimed at raising funds and drawing attention to the tens of millions of displaced people around the world.
Italy's southern Apulia region has banned farm work during the hottest hours of the day, following the death of a migrant worker. Camara Fantamadi, from Mali, collapsed and died last week after working in the open in 40-degree heat.
Sicilian authorities have now reported 49 positive COVID-19 tests from the group of 422 migrants who disembarked the Ocean Viking on Monday and Tuesday this week.
The UN migration agency, IOM, says that more than two-thirds of West African migrants returning to their home countries are in financial debt. Many also feel that shame prevents them from reintegrating in their communites, an IOM study has found.
Migrants and crew onboard the Ocean Viking celebrated on Sunday after they were told the ship's 422 passengers could disembark in the port of Augusta in Sicily. Disembarkation was expected to start on Monday.
The UNHCR has helped 3,000 Malian refugees move back into Burkina Faso's Goudoubo refugee camp. The same refugees had been forced to abandon the site nine months earlier following a series of violent attacks.