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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. -
Refugees from Myanmar get a crash course on Dutch culture, society
31 Jul 2006 When a group of 35 refugees from Myanmar flew to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport earlier this year, they were schooled in how to deal with the culture shock of living in a new and strange country. They had taken part in a special cultural orientation course in two Thai refugee settlements. -
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. -
Hope for Malaysia's home-learning Rohingya refugees - the Harvest Centre
14 Jul 2006 Many Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia are not getting a full basic education because of financial and bureaucratic obstacles. But some lucky ones have been given places in Malaysia's first Montessori school for marginalised children. -
Refugees from Myanmar in Thailand benefit from Australian generosity
29 Jun 2006 Refugees from Myanmar living in camps in Thailand are set to benefit from Australia's generosity as a resettlement country, and also from a substantial grant aimed at helping improve educational standards in the camps. -
2,000 refugees from Myanmar flee to Thailand after renewed conflict
24 May 2006 Over the last three months some 2,000 refugees from Myanmar have arrived in Thailand saying they are fleeing renewed conflict and human rights abuses in Kayin state in Myanmar. Some 400 crossed the border last week and more are expected. -
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.