UNHCR has reiterated a call for a ban on forced returns, including of asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected, to the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The call comes amid attacks on civilians and an escalation of armed conflict after a resumption of fighting.
Over two million people have fled South Sudan due to fighting and extreme weather events; well over one million South Sudanese nationals have been internally displaced. One of them is Alok, whose story was recently recounted by IOM (UN Migration Agency).
The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and UNICEF have reported that about 234,000 Ukrainian refugees were able to use protection and support services provided by 36 "Blue Dot" hubs across seven countries.
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.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has announced that Italy has increased funds to support Ukrainian refugees in the country from €500 million to 800 million.
The humanitarian association Mediterranea Saving Humans has launched its third Safe Passage mission to take medicine, food and other aid to Ukraine and to bring refugees fleeing the war back to Italy.
The Milan Fair Foundation and the Arca Project Foundation have collected over 100 tons of essential goods for Ukrainian refugees. Trucks departed for Poland earlier this week.
In Dnipro, an Italian chef who has lived for three years in Ukraine is helping refugees fleeing the war."When the bombs began, I did not think twice.You can't just leave. You need to help these people. It reminds me of Italy 30 years ago," he said.
The international fundraising campaign 'Stand up for Ukraine' has raised a €9.1 billion to support refugees fleeing war in Ukraine and internally displaced people.
A Swiss millionaire has so far transported over 300 Ukrainians from Poland to Switzerland since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is not the first time Guido Fluri has used his millions to help refugees.
Oxfam Italia has launched a new campaign called "Let's Save Lives in Emergencies" to raise awareness of its work in war-torn countries such as Yemen, Syria, and now, Ukraine.
More than three million people have fled Ukraine, moving west — for the most part — to neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary and Romania. But one person has decided to move in the other direction, getting dangerously close to the Ukrainian border to help war refugees.