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Tag: Refugees

  • Nigeria has refugees from 48 countries – FG reveals

    Nigeria has refugees from 48 countries – FG reveals

    The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria is housing refugees from 48 countries, with six nationalities: Cameroon, Niger, Syria, Central African Republic and Sudan making up 86 per cent.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made the disclosure on Friday.

    Speaking during an event to mark the 2025 World Refugee Day in Abuja, Alhaji Ahmed reiterated FG’s commitment toward protecting and assisting all the 138,154 refugees in the country to rebuild their lives.

    World Refugee Day is celebrated on June 20 of every year to raise awareness on refugees’ situations around the world. The theme for this year’s Day is: “Solidarity with Refugees: A call to Action for Inclusion”.

    Ahmed noted that the figures represented registered refugees and asylum seekers living in 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    He explained that the forcibly displaced persons originated from 48 countries, with six nationalities – Cameroon, Niger, Syria, Central African Republic and Sudan making up 86 per cent.

    Out of the 138,154 refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria, he said that there were 32,746 awaiting registration.

    “We have 16,215 returnees and 1,396 spontaneous returnees, while the IDPs we have in camps are 3,576,100,” he said.

    Ahmed further stated that the IDPs, when added those living outside the camps, that is, the ones living within host communities, would be no fewer than 6.2 million, with many of them innocent women and children.

    “So as we celebrate the World Refugee Day, we recognise the contributions refugees have made to our communities.

    “It is an invitation to honour refugees’ voices, strengthen community ties and amplify the need for inclusion in national systems, such as social protection and local development frameworks,” he said.

    According to him, the objective of the commemoration of World Refugee Day is to celebrate the resilience of refugees and to reiterate the need for countries to support millions of families all over the world who have lost their homes because of violence or war.

    “It is a day to recognise the challenges and hardship that refugees face but honour their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles and above all, we celebrate their many valuable contributions to nation building.

    “As the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, together with our partners, we are proud to have played a crucial role in protecting and assisting refugees in Nigeria,” he added.

    Ahmed said that over the years, the commission had worked tirelessly to ensure that refugees received the support they needed to rebuild their lives.

    He listed some notable achievements of the commission to include: provision of protection and assistance to thousands of refugees, ensuring their safety and dignity and voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees from the neighboring countries of Cameroon and Chad.

    Meanwhile, the Filippo Grandi-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called for collective efforts among countries toward protecting displaced persons in the society.

    Represented by Bernadette Muteshi, Grandi stressed the need for supporting the host countries and communities by sharing the responsibility of protecting refugees.

    “We must stand with refugees to keep alive their hopes of a better future.

    “This World Refugee Day and every day, governments, institutions, companies and individuals can prove that by helping those caught up in senseless conflicts, we move towards greater stability, humanity and justice for us all.

    “If we do so, I can promise you that refugees will bring all their courage, spirit and ingenuity to the task of creating a better and brighter tomorrow,” he said.

    On his part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, described the World Refugee Day as a call to action, saying that refugees were not just statistics but fathers, mothers and children whose lives were interrupted.

    Represented by the Director of Humanitarian in the ministry, Hajia Jummai Katagun, Yilwatda reaffirmed government’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees to ensure, not just protection but opportunity, safety and belonging.

    “They are our neighbours and we must let no borders define our humanity. As crises grow more complex, from violent conflicts to climate displacement, so too must our response grow more courageous.

    “As the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, our vision is to build a nation where no displaced person is left behind, where every refugee can rise, rebuild and thrive,” the minister said.

  • WHO releases 5 themes for improved mental health for refugees, migrants

    WHO releases 5 themes for improved mental health for refugees, migrants

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a new report entitled:  “Mental health of refugees, migrants, risk, protective factors and access to care”.

     

    The organisation in a statement on Tuesday outlined the latest global evidence on main factors influencing the mental health of refugees and migrants and their access to care.

     

    It said that it was the fifth report of the Global Evidence review on Health and Migration (GEHM).

     

    “Around one in eight people globally live with a mental health condition.

     

    ” Refugees and migrants are particularly vulnerable, as they can be exposed to various stress factors and challenges, which affect their mental health and well-being both during their journeys and on arrival.

     

    “The prevalence of common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) tends to be higher among migrants and refugees than among host populations.

     

    “Girls and women on the move have a higher risk of depression and anxiety,” it said.

     

    Dr Santino Severoni, Director of the WHO’s Department of Health and Migration,  said good mental health and well-being is a right for all, including for refugees and migrants.

     

    Severoni said that the report would support and strengthen health systems’ responses to the mental health needs of refugees and migrants

     

    He said the report would enable them receive quality mental health care and support in ways they find accessible, acceptable and affordable.

     

    The report summarised different risk factors and barriers refugee and migrant groups experience, and outlines five key themes to be addressed in order to improve their access to mental health care.

     

    “Community support: Evidence shows that being part of a community with a shared background and attending school are associated with lower rates of mental disorders.

     

    “Basic needs and security. For example, an insecure legal status can contribute to poor mental health.

     

    “Stigma: experiences of racism and discrimination are consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes.

     

    “Adversity and trauma. For example, extended detention is associated with increased rates of depression and PTSD.

     

    “Access to services. Refugees and migrants often do not prioritise their mental health because they are not aware of the services available free of charge or do not accept health care due to language barriers and concerns around confidentiality.

     

    “Refugees and migrants face many unique stressors and challenges,” it said.

     

    Mrs Dévora Kestel, WHO Director for Mental Health and Substance Use, said that the report sets out the urgent need for robust policies and legislation, rooted within stronger health systems to meet the mental health care needs of refugees and migrants.

     

    She said that urgent actions are needed by policymakers based on the findings of the review.

     

    ” GEHM puts forward a series of actions for consideration by governments, policymakers, and programme managers in Ministries of Health and other ministries, cutting across all the five thematic areas outlined:

     

    “Promote refugees’ and migrants’ participation in society and reduce discrimination by adopting refugee- and migrant-sensitive mental health policies.

     

    “Address the non-medical factors that impact mental health in migration policies and prioritize basic needs, such as food, housing, safety, and education or employment.

     

    “This means, for example, using settings other than detention facilities to assess the health status of refugees and migrants,” it said.

     

    The statement said that health workers would be trained to assess and treat mental health conditions among refugees and migrants and strengthen the capacity of other relevant professionals.

     

    It said that the trained workers would also recognise and support those with mental health conditions.

  • How to support refugees in exile – UNHCR

    How to support refugees in exile – UNHCR

    Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner for Refugees at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), has said that inclusion is the best way to support refugees in exile.

    In his message on World Refugee Day 2023 on Tuesday, Grandi said inclusion would prepare them to help rebuild their countries when conditions allowed them to return, or to thrive if they were resettled in another country.

    World Refugee Day is marked yearly on June 20, to honour refugees around the world.

    According to Grandi, host countries cannot care for refugees on their own, and the rest of the international community must step up and provide the financial resources to enable progressive policies.

    “We have seen enormous progress in this area over the past years, with outstanding donor generosity, innovative approaches to financing, and huge investments by the World Bank, regional development banks, and other international financial institutions. But clearly, more must be done.

    “It is time for us all to commit to including refugees in our communities at all levels – in our schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, and beyond, as the Kenyan government is doing, so that refugees can regain hope away from home.”

    Grandi said that he was marking the 2023 occasion in Kenya, meeting refugees brimming with strength and ambition despite escaping conflict, drought, and other horrors.

    He said Kenya and Kenyans had generously hosted refugees for over 30 years and he had seen the impact of the many positive and concrete steps to improve conditions for refugees and host communities.

    “I am using this particular visit to highlight to the rest of the world that we can – and must – do more to offer such hope, opportunities, and solutions to refugees, wherever they are and whatever the context. Kenya shows that it is possible.

    “Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety is the most effective way to help them restart their lives and contribute to the countries hosting them.

    “In real terms, this means ensuring that refugees can apply for jobs, enroll in schools, and access services like housing and health care. It also means fostering a sense of belonging and welcome that gives hope to refugees uprooted from their homes.

    “The government here is poised to roll out innovative and inclusive policies that will allow many of the half a million refugees and asylum-seekers to work and live side by side with Kenyans. This will encourage self-reliance, grow the economy, and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid,” he said.

    He added that the challenges facing host countries in a world short on peace must be acknowledged.

    Grandi said that more often than not, it was border communities that continued to receive and host people fleeing the violence.

    According to him, countries neighbouring Sudan are an example of this solidarity.

    “Many refugee-hosting countries like Sudan have the will to welcome and include refugees, but need far more investment and support to do so. Unfortunately, in today’s divided world, long-term solutions for people forced to flee remain pitifully scarce, leaving many of the world’s 35 million refugees in limbo.”

    He called on leaders to live up to their responsibility to broker peace and stop violence so that refugees could return home safely and voluntarily.

    He also urged governments to increase resettlement opportunities for refugees desperately in need.

    “I call on states to embrace policies that harness the enormous potential refugees have to contribute to the social, economic, and political life of the countries hosting them.

    “We know too well the cost of inaction: a world with the highest forced displacement in recorded history. We cannot let this continue,” Grandi said.

  • Biden, 19 Latin American leaders sign migration declaration

    U.S. President Joe Biden and 19 Latin American and Caribbean leaders on Friday signed a much-anticipated pact to expand legal pathways for migrants and refugees and provide new funding to assist countries in hosting them.

    “Each of us is signing up to commitments that recognize the challenges we all share, and the responsibility that impacts on all of our nations,” Biden said as he joined a group of regional leaders to sign the so-called Los Angeles Declaration.

    The signatories to the agreement announced on the last day of the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, included Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — four countries whose commitments were in doubt after their leaders boycotted the conference over the U.S. decision to exclude several countries it considers to be anti-democratic.

    Mexico is a key player in the region, and its cooperation is essential to stemming the flow of migrants to the U.S., while the three Northern Triangle nations of Central America — El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — produce a large share of the region’s migrants.

    Although their leaders’ absence had cast doubt on how comprehensive migration talks at the summit would be, Biden administration officials maintained that the pact would include a diverse group of countries coping with the surge in migrants across Latin America.

    Migration patterns in the Western Hemisphere have shifted as the region has grappled with a pandemic-fueled economic crisis, exacerbated by political upheaval, violence and environmental disasters.

    Biden pointed out that millions of migrants who fled Venezuela now make up as much as 10 per cent of Costa Rica’s population.

    “(Our) economic futures depend on one another…. And our security is linked in ways that I don’t think most people in my country fully understand — and maybe not in your countries as well,” he said.

    The pact includes commitments from Mexico to launch a temporary labor program for 15,000 to 20,000 workers from Guatemala. The country will expand eligibility for that program to include Honduras and El Salvador “in the medium term,” according to a fact sheet provided by the White House.

    The Biden administration plans to dole out $314 million in humanitarian aid, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, as well as provide billions in existing development bank funding to help promote new programs to accept migrants and refugees in countries such as Ecuador and Costa Rica.

    The U.S. also will provide H-2B nonagricultural seasonal worker visas to 11,500 nationals of northern Central America and Haiti.

    Biden also announced stepped-up efforts in conjunction with other countries to combat human smuggling.

    “If you prey on desperate and vulnerable migrants for profit, we are coming for you. We are coming after you,” he warned.

    Other countries will also be taking steps to address the jump in the number of migrants traveling to the United States. Border officials encountered more than 1.7 million migrants along the U.S. southern border in 2021 and more than 1.3 million in the first seven months of this year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    Canada, too, will provide $26.9 million for the 2022-23 fiscal year for migration management and humanitarian aid. Spain will pledge to double the number of labor pathways for Hondurans.

  • Ukraine invasion: Neighbouring countries struggle with refugees’ influx

    Ukraine invasion: Neighbouring countries struggle with refugees’ influx

    UN humanitarians have warned that the exodus of millions of Ukrainians from their country following the Russian invasion could overwhelm neighbouring countries.

    The head of UN Children Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday expressed her horror over the reported destruction of a maternity hospital in the stricken coastal city of Mariupol, which has been under heavy bombardment for days.

    Till date, more than 2.2 million people have fled Ukraine according to UN refugee agency (UNHCR), most have found shelter in Poland and more than 200,000 have reached Hungary.

    Slovakia has taken in more than 150,000 people from its embattled neighbour since Feb. 24, when Russian forces began shelling and bombarding Ukrainian cities.

    In a phone call with Polish President, Andrzej Duda, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he appreciated the welcome extended there, to more than one million refugees from Ukraine.

    The UN chief “told the President that he will do everything possible to mobilise the whole of the UN system, in coordination with UNHCR, to support Poland’s generosity,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.

    He said Guterres was thankful for the “immense generosity and solidarity shown by all countries” bordering Ukraine.

    As part of his overall mediation efforts to try and end the fighting in Ukraine, the UN chief also spoke on Wednesday afternoon with German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, and Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign and security policy High Representative.

    Latest estimates from UN aid agencies suggest that four million refugees are likely by the end of the war, which represents about 10 per cent of Ukraine’s population.

    The development follows news alerts on Wednesday that a Russian strike on a children’s hospital and maternity ward in the stricken city of Mariupol, had left children buried under the rubble, according to Ukrainian officials.

    The bombing has not been independently verified, but Dujarric said the UN was urgently investigating the “shocking” reports.

    He reiterated the UN’s call for an immediate halt to attacks on healthcare, hospitals, health-workers and ambulances, reminding that “none of these, should ever be a target.”

    Any attacks on healthcare, are a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law.

    In a tweet, Guterres described reports of the attack as “horrific”, noting that civilians were paying “the highest price, for a war that has nothing to do with them. This senseless violence must stop.”

    In a statement, UNICEF chief, Catherine Russell, said she was “horrified by the reported attack…an attack which reportedly left young children and women in labour, buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings.

    “We do not yet know the number of casualties but fear the worst.”

    “This attack, if confirmed, underscores the horrific toll this war is exacting on Ukraine’s children and families” she added. “In less than two weeks, at least 37 children have been killed and 50 injured, while more than one million children have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries.

    According to UNICEF chief, this attack, if confirmed, underscores the horrific toll this war is exacting on Ukraine’s children and families.

    “Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure – including hospitals, water and sanitation systems and schools – are unconscionable and must stop immediately.

    “UNICEF renews its call for an immediate ceasefire and urges all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children from harm, and to ensure that humanitarian actors can safely and quickly reach children in need.”

    Briefing journalists in Geneva, World Health Organisation chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus said that so far, WHO has verified 18 attacks on health facilities, health workers and ambulances amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including 10 deaths and 16 injuries.

    “These attacks deprive whole communities of health care,” he said.

    “So far, WHO has delivered 81 metric tons of supplies, and WHO is establishing a pipeline of supplies for health facilities throughout Ukraine, especially in the most affected areas,’’ he said.

    The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday it has helped almost 100 so-called Third Country Nationals (TCNs), stranded in Ukraine during the Russian attack, to return home.

    They include 77 Tunisians, forced to flee to Romania and Poland; three Lebanese nationals, and 17 Ghanaian students. Seven other students leave for Ghana on Thursday.

    IOM said that around 109,000 TCNs have fled Ukraine since the war began, as the agency collaborates with States, embassies, border authorities, and other partners, to help them return.

    In addition to supporting returns, IOM provided pre-departure medical assistance, food, COVID-19 testing, Personal Protective Equipment and much-needed ground transportation to the points of departure.

  • Africa football legends, CAF/FIFA officials, Refugees, to play friendly football match

    Africa football legends, CAF/FIFA officials, Refugees, to play friendly football match

    Some of Africa’s football legends, including former Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners will take on the field against Refugees in a friendly match on Sunday.

    Officials of CAF and FIFA will also be participating in the friendly match.

    A statement by CAF said the match to be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Sunday from 10 a. m. was an initiative of a partnership between CAF and UNHCR, a UN Refugee Agency.

    It said a rich list of dignitaries as well as ex-internationals would be taking part in the friendly match.

    “Heading up the list of players who will take part in the friendly match are CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

    “The list of African legends include Khalilou Fadiga, Elhadji Diouf, Mamadou Niang, Alassane Ndour (Senegal), Didier Drogba, Siaka Tiene (Cote d’Ivoire), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo),

    “Others include Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria) and Joseph Antoine Bell, Roger Milla, Lea Charles Eyoum, Rigobert Song, Patrick Mboma and Eric Djemba Djemba (Cameroon),” it said.

  • Uganda to host more than 2,000 Afghan refugees

    Uganda to host more than 2,000 Afghan refugees

    At least 500 refugees fleeing Afghanistan are scheduled to arrive in Kampala on Tuesday, a government official said.

    Esther Anyakun, minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, told Xinhua by telephone that more refugees are expected into the east African country.

    “Most likely a total of 2,000 but tonight 500 are coming,” she said without disclosing details.

    Hundreds of Afghans are fleeing the country after the Taliban forces entered the capital of Kabul, Afghanistan, and took control of the presidential palace Sunday.

    This will not be the first time Uganda is hosting refugees from outside Africa.

    According to the UN Refugee Agency, Uganda received 7,000 Polish refugees during World War II.

    Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa, more than 1.45 million, mostly from South Sudan, but also from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, according to figures by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

  • Biden raises refugees admission cap to 62,500 from Trump’s 15,000

    Biden raises refugees admission cap to 62,500 from Trump’s 15,000

    President Joe Biden has raised the cap for refugee admissions into the United States to 62,500, in a U-turn that more than quadruples the limit set by his predecessor.

    The number announced on Monday was still short of the 125,000 Biden promised during his presidential campaign, though he said he intended to set that as the goal for next year.

    Biden had previously set this year’s refugee admissions level at 15,000, maintaining the cap set by former president Donald Trump, but after receiving criticism in April he walked it back.

    “Today, I am revising the United States’ annual refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for this fiscal year.

    “This erases the historically low number set by the previous administration of 15,000, which did not reflect America’s values as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees,” Biden said in a statement on Monday.

    He said that the 62,500 cap was unlikely to be reached this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

    “We are working quickly to undo the damage of the last four years. It will take some time, but that work is already underway,” he added.

    The Trump administration’s 15,000 cap was the lowest since the introduction of the U.S. refugee programme in 1980.

    The previous limit for the last fiscal year was 18,000.

    In 2016, then-president Barack Obama’s last full year in office, about 85,000 refugees were allowed into the U.S.

    Trump lowered the limit in 2017, his first in office, and about 53,000 refugees were let in, according to a report issued last year by the Department of Homeland Security.

  • Trump reduces number of refugee admissions into U.S to 15,000

    Trump reduces number of refugee admissions into U.S to 15,000

    President Donald Trump has cut the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. to historic low of 15,000 in the current fiscal year.

    The figure includes 6,000 unused places from the previous financial year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Trump said in a statement distributed by the White House in the early hours of Wednesday.

    The policy caps the number of refugees who can be admitted from Iraq at 4,000 and the number admitted from El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras at 1,000.

    The remaining 10,000 spots are for people who fear persecution for their religious beliefs or political activities or who are referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programme.

    The statement additionally specifies that “persons from certain high-risk areas of terrorist presence or control, including Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, shall not be admitted as refugees, except those refugees of special humanitarian concern.”

    The U.S. State Department had announced the cut would happen earlier in the month, saying it was necessary to “prioritise the safety and well-being of Americans, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.’’

    The number is the lowest level since the introduction of the U.S. refugee programme in 1980. The previous limit for the last fiscal year was 18,000.

    In 2016, then-President Barack Obama’s last full year in office, about 85,000 refugees were allowed into the US.

    Trump lowered the limit in 2017, his first in office, and about 53,000 refugees were let in, according to a report issued last year by the Department of Homeland Security.

  • Photos: 23 dead as Gov Zulum distributes relief items to refugees in Niger

    Photos: 23 dead as Gov Zulum distributes relief items to refugees in Niger

    Twenty-three people have been feared dead in a stampede during a food distribution by the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum at a refugee camp housing Nigerians in Niger Republic.

    Over 120,000 Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram terrorists have taken refuge in Niger Republic.

    Officials of the Borno State Government were engaged in the distribution of the food items to Nigerian refugees living in Niger Republic, but Zulum was said to have travelled to Diffa, a border community in Niger Republic, where he met over 120,000 Nigerians who fled their homes some years ago.

    The 120,000 are among the millions of Nigerians who have been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in North-east Nigeria.

    The Nigerian refugees in Niger

    The rice and oil given by the Borno Governor Zulum to the refugees

    According to government sources, Monday’s stampede occurred hours after Zulum left Niger Republic for Maiduguri.

    Zulum had on Sunday supervised the distribution of the food items to about 30,000 refugees before he left with an instruction that the state emergency agencies should continue to distribute the materials.

    It was learnt that the stampede happened on Monday morning as refugees began to protest the delay in the continuation of the food distribution at the two distribution sites called the MJC Boys and Girls Club in Diffa province.

    Female refugees in Niger

    According to an official of the Borno State Government who witnessed the incident, Nigeriens living around the camp stormed the place with the hope of getting some food even though they were not meant to benefit.

    “The distribution supervised by Governor Zulum on Sunday was successfully carried out as the entire 30,000 that received the meal token, all got their food and clothing,” the witness said, asking not to be named as he was not authorised to talk to journalists.

    “After the governor had left, the official continued the distribution at a venue called Gidan Wasa, where over 6000 refugees received their shares. But things went out of control the second day when some local Nigeriens got wind of the distribution exercise continuing on Monday.

    “They rushed down to join the Nigerian refugees at the distribution locations; and in attempts to be the first to get the relief items, a serious stampede ensued,” the official said.

    The source said of the 23 persons that died, 19 were Nigeriens, while four were Nigerians.

    “Most of those that died were aged women and children,” the source said.

    The official said the fact that Nigeriens were involved in the stampede “explains the fact that there is serious poverty and hunger in that axis.”

    When contacted, the spokesman of the Borno State governor, Isa Gusau, confirmed the development.

    He said the government will not be making any official comment on the matter now, “until the governor receives a detail report” of what transpired from the committee handling the distribution of the items to the refugees.