Conflict being driven by ecological damage, report finds
Countries hit by ecological damage and conflict are trapped in a vicious cycle where one problem reinforces the other. And climate change is expected to make things worse.
Nigeria
Couple torn apart in Libya shares story of migration dangers
A Nigerian couple heading to Europe via Libya was separated and forced to suffer at the hands of ruthless smugglers. Thanks to a safe house supported by the UN and the medical charity MSF, the two were eventually reunited.
Nigerian women forced into prostitution in Europe
In Italy, thousands of Nigerian women are being forced into prostitution. The Nigerian mafia is suspected of being behind it. Insiders warn of the dangers of this 'new mafia' – with connections to Italian organized crime gangs.
Malaria still main disease among refugees
Malaria remained the leading cause of disease among refugees in 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Young children in sub-Saharan Africa are especially vulnerable to the mosquito-borne disease.
Queer refugees: UNHCR wants more protections
The UNHCR has called for a better treatment of LGBTIQ+ people forced to flee their homes. The UN Refugee Agency is currently holding a roundtable conference focused on protections for LGBTIQ+ refugees and displaced people against persecution and violence.
German authorities accused of revealing sexual orientation of asylum seekers
Lawyers working with the German Foreign Office have allegedly revealed the sexual identity of gay, lesbian and bisexual refugees to their home countries. The Lesbian and Gay Association of Germany (LSVD) referred to these instances as "human rights abuse" that has to be stopped immediately.
Algerian desert: The 'point zero' where migrants are abandoned
Since the beginning of the year, more than 4,000 people have been taken by the Algerian police to the border with Niger, to a place in the middle of the desert nicknamed "point zero". Abandoned there, some get lost and are never found. In a new report, MSF denounces these illegal deportations that continue despite border closure.
Germany presses on with deportations despite pandemic
Germany deported more than 750 people to Africa in 2020. Most African countries are ill-prepared to welcome rejected asylum seekers, and the coronavirus could make matters worse, activists say.
Italian court rules to protect those fleeing forced marriage
The Italian Court of Cassation on March 5 upheld an appeal filed by a young Nigerian woman who had fled her homeland after being pressured by a relative to marry someone she did not want to. The court ruled that women migrants fleeing "forced marriages" can be granted a form of protection to enable them to remain in Italy.
More than 40 migrants die off Libyan coast
At least 43 migrants died off the coast of Libya in what has been described as the first major shipwreck in the area this year. While ten were rescued, the UN expects more casualties to follow.
A Nigerian rider in Rome: James Osawe's story
The coronavirus pandemic has brought challenges for people and countries all over the world. Some businesses however grew during the lockdowns – food delivery services is one example. Nigerian migrant James Osawe is one of Rome’s thousands of delivery riders. German TV channel ZDF accompanied him on a shift in Rome.
Nigerian migrant burned alive in Libya
A young Nigerian man was burned alive in Libya earlier this week, according to UN and government officials. The men accused of setting him on fire have been arrested. An investigation into the incident is under way.