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As thousands risk their lives at sea to reach Europe, UNHCR calls for a broad joint response to deal with the challenge
24 May 2006 As thousands of people risk their lives every month making the perilous journey by boat from North Africa to reach Europe, UNHCR calls for a better joint response to deal with the challenges of mixed, maritime migratory flows. The Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Erika Feller, was in the Canary Islands today to meet the authorities and see for herself the situation of recent boat arrivals. -
Number of asylum seekers in South Africa rises sharply in first quarter
19 May 2006 In new detailed quarterly statistics released today, South Africa reports a strong rise in asylum applications in the first three months of the year, with the largest number coming from Zimbabweans. -
UNHCR offers voluntary repatriation to Angolan refugees in South Africa
11 May 2006 The UN refugee agency and the government of South Africa launch a campaign to inform Angolan refugees that 2006 will be the last year UNHCR will assist those who wish to repatriate from South Africa. -
Squatter camp in South Africa underscores need for urban refugee policy review
23 Feb 2006 Some 300 asylum seekers have set up camp outside a government office in South Africa's capital, awaiting their turn to get a permit legitimising their stay in the country. The huge backlog of cases and the precarious living conditions underscores the need for the current review of UNHCR's policy urban refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa. -
New methodology helps refugee children in Southern Africa deal with violence
12 Dec 2005 In a series of meetings in South Africa to build on a groundbreaking study that used art to reveal the effects of violence on refugee children, the children and refugee organizations are following up by developing new ways to tackle the problem. -
UNHCR helps South Africa tackle huge asylum backlog
27 Sep 2005 The UN refugee agency has been providing training sessions, advice and material aid to assist the South African government in its efforts to reduce its huge backlog of over 100,000 pending asylum cases. -
A Shadow of Hope becomes reality for refugee filmmaker in South Africa
21 Sep 2005 With the screening of his latest documentary at a South African human rights film festival, Congolese refugee Makela Pululu has confounded all those who dismissed his hope of become a filmmaker as nothing more than a pipe dream. -
Colombian singer lends voice to refugee cause
30 Aug 2005 Through his concerts in Spain, award-winning rock star Juanes is drawing attention to the plight of refugees and displaced people, something the Medellín-born singer-songwriter knows well. -
Crossing a continent to find peace and tolerance
10 Aug 2005 As child soldiers in West Africa, Idrissa and Mohammed were forced to fight and witness atrocities unimaginable to grown men. Both managed to escape their captors and to embark on long journeys in search of protection and safety, which they finally found in Spain.