Tag: UNHCR

Children’s storybook released to help children and young people cope with COVID-19

Stuart Mitchell

A new storybook that aims to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has been produced by a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children. With the help of a fantasy creature, Ario, “My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19!” explains how children can protect themselves, their families and friends from…

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Sony provides the first major corporate contribution to UNHCR’s COVID-19 appeal

Stuart Mitchell

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes Sony Corporation’s announcement of establishing “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19”, through which a US$3 million contribution will be made to help protect refugees from the threat of this pandemic. This is the first major private sector contribution to UNHCR’s COVID-19 appeal. Timely and unearmarked funds are critical for helping UNHCR field operations to prepare and respond to COVID-19 pandemic and prevent the spread among refugees and their host communities. “We are calling for strong involvement of the private sector in this humanitarian response,…

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UNHCR launches sustainable energy strategy, strengthens climate action

Stuart Mitchell

In recognition of the growing climate crisis and to boost refugees’ access to safe and sustainable energy, while minimizing its own environmental impact, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a four-year Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy. The strategy promotes the transition to clean, renewable energy at refugee camps and hosting sites, including for individual households, communal areas and support facilities. “There is no escaping the fact that climate change is contributing to underlying causes of conflict and displacement. From drought and famine to more frequent extreme weather events, the impacts…

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UNHCR welcomes support of 175 cities worldwide for refugees

Stuart Mitchell

On the occasion of World Refugee Day 2019, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency thanks mayors in scores of cities across some 50 countries for adding their support to a global statement of welcome and inclusiveness for families forced to flee. The statement is part of UNHCR’s year-old Cities #WithRefugees initiative and has now been signed by some 175 cities. This gesture of solidarity with refugees is all the more important as UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report, released only yesterday, shows that approximately 61 per cent of all refugees and 80 per…

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UNHCR’s new 1 Billion Miles to Safety campaign invites the public to step in solidarity with refugees

Stuart Mitchell

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have announced a new global campaign calling on people all over the world to cover the distance travelled by refugees each year. The 1 Billion Miles to Safety campaign will encourage people to support refugees by championing individual acts of solidarity. These acts, when taken together, acknowledge the resilience and strength of refugees. UNHCR traced the journeys of refugees around the world and calculated that collectively, people forced to flee travel approximately one billion milesevery year to reach the first point of safety. In 2016, Syrian…

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