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UNHCR helps thousands fleeing fighting in north-east Sri Lanka
8 Aug 2006 The UN refugee agency, with the help of local aid agencies, has been assisting thousands of people fleeing the latest outbreak of fighting between government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in north-east Sri Lanka. -
UNHCR concerned about civilians caught in Sri Lanka fighting
4 Aug 2006 The UN refugee agency on Friday said it was concerned about the safety of civilians caught in the middle of escalated fighting between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The situation was particularly worrying in Trincomalee district, where the conflict has caused displacement, injury and loss of life and property among all ethnic communities. -
UNHCR chief says only peace can provide solution for Sri Lanka's displaced
27 Jul 2006 On a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres called for confidence-building measures to make it possible for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by years of civil war to go home if they choose. -
Sri Lankan agency builds new shelters in Jaffna despite security problems
25 Jul 2006 Despite the deteriorating security situation in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, a UNHCR-funded organisation in Jaffna is pushing ahead with construction of new shelters for people displaced or made homeless during years of conflict. The Jaffna Social Action Centre is building or upgrading more than 450 shelters across the Jaffna peninsula. -
Killings, abductions in Baghdad leave Palestinians in Iraq scared and angry
1 Jun 2006 The Palestinian refugee community in Iraq has become more afraid and angry following the murders of six Palestinians and the kidnapping of several others over the last two weeks in the Iraqi capital. -
Palestinians allowed into Syria after two months on the Iraq-Jordan border
9 May 2006 A total of 244 Palestinians who had been stranded for months on the Iraq-Jordan border are granted access to Syria. Another group of recent arrivals remains stranded at the Iraq-Syrian border. -
Increasing intimidation exacerbates displacement in Sri Lanka
28 Apr 2006 Earlier this week, thousands of people fled their homes following air strikes and unrest on the ground in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. While reports now suggest the overall situation has stabilized in most parts of the conflict zone, UNHCR is calling for access to all those who have fled. It is also increasingly concerned about an emerging trend of intimidation which could cause those already displaced by the violence to flee government-run welfare centres. -
Syria to admit nearly 200 Palestinians stranded on the Iraq-Jordan border
25 Apr 2006 UNHCR has welcomed an announcement by the Syrian government to admit a group of 181 Palestinians who have been stuck on the Iraq-Jordan border since fleeing Baghdad in mid-March following death threats. The news, however, is encouraging more Palestinians, for whom there is no agreement to enter Syria, to flee to the border. -
Death threats cause panic in Baghdad's Palestinian refugee community
24 Mar 2006 Palestinian refugees in Baghdad are taking their children out of school and refusing to go to work after many members of their community received death threats accusing them of being traitors.