News for 'UN High Commissioner for Refugees'

Trump pulls US out of UNHRC, cuts funds for Palestinian refugees

Trump pulls US out of UNHRC, cuts funds for Palestinian refugees

Rediff.com5 Feb 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the UN Human Rights Council and prohibiting any future funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Trump also directed the US to review its participation in UNESCO, citing concerns about anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment within the organizations. The executive order argues that the UNHRC, UNESCO, and UNRWA have drifted from their missions and act contrary to US interests. Trump previously halted funds for UNRWA during his first term, and President Joe Biden put a block on US funds for UNRWA in January 2024 over allegations that staff for the agency participated in Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack against Israel.

When country faces difficult time...: SC pulls up Rohingya petitioners

When country faces difficult time...: SC pulls up Rohingya petitioners

Rediff.com16 May 2025

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also questioned the authenticity of materials placed before it by petitioner Mohd Ismail and others and refused to stay any further deportation of Rohingyas saying similar relief was denied by the court.

Over 100,000 civilians fled Syria in August: UN

Over 100,000 civilians fled Syria in August: UN

Rediff.com5 Sep 2012

United nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the 'highly dangerous' militarisation of conflict in Syria, even as the world body said that over 100,000 people fled the country last month.

UN announces human rights awards

UN announces human rights awards

Rediff.com3 Dec 2003

UN team meets Rohingyas in Jammu as BJP protests

UN team meets Rohingyas in Jammu as BJP protests

Rediff.com11 Dec 2024

A two-member team of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met Rohingya Muslims at a slum in Jammu amid a heated debate whether the illegally settled immigrants be provided water and electricity.

Online game to raise awareness on refugee issue

Online game to raise awareness on refugee issue

Rediff.com8 Nov 2007

In September 2006, the German version of the game -- known as LastExitFlucht (LastExitFlight) -- was awarded the Austrian Multimedia and E-Business State Prize in the category for 'Knowledge and Learning,' after beating off stiff competition from a CD-Rom about the life of Mozart. While there have been many educational tools created for raising awareness about refugees over the years, Against All Odds offers a chance to experience what it is like to be a refugee.

Pakistan: Kidnappers set deadline for UN official

Pakistan: Kidnappers set deadline for UN official

Rediff.com2 Mar 2009

The abductors of an American United Nations official, kidnapped in Pakistan's Balochistan province in February, have threatened to kill him if their demands, including the release of thousands of political prisoners, were not met within the next four days.The Balochistan Liberation United Front, which abducted UN High Commissioner for Refugees official John Solecki after killing his driver on February 2, listed its demands in a letter sent to a news agency.

UN Security Council backs Guterres to be next UN chief

UN Security Council backs Guterres to be next UN chief

Rediff.com6 Oct 2016

The 15-member Council held a formal vote here to elect Guterres, the former UN High Commissioner for refugees had emerged as the "clear favourite" to succeed Ban Ki-moon, 72, as the 9th Secretary General.

India hits back at UN rights chief over Rohingya remark

India hits back at UN rights chief over Rohingya remark

Rediff.com12 Sep 2017

There appears to be inadequate appreciation of the freedoms and rights that are guaranteed and practised daily in a vibrant democracy, India says.

'Lankan refugees must not risk journey to India'

'Lankan refugees must not risk journey to India'

Rediff.com29 May 2006

The drowning on May 19 was the latest in a series of incidents involving Sri Lankan refugees traveling to India, which includes abandonment at sea, capsized vessels, and previous fatalities.

Portugal's Antonio Guterres officially elected as UN secretary general

Portugal's Antonio Guterres officially elected as UN secretary general

Rediff.com13 Oct 2016

The 15-nation UN Security Council had last week voted for Guterres by acclamation and forwarded his name to the General Assembly.

UN condemns Gaza hospital attack, calls for ceasefire

UN condemns Gaza hospital attack, calls for ceasefire

Rediff.com18 Oct 2023

The United Nations, its top leaders and agencies have expressed horror and strong condemnation over the killing of hundreds of civilians in a strike on a hospital in Gaza, underscoring that attack on hospitals or civilian infrastructure is against international humanitarian law and called for holding those responsible to account.

Hopes fading for woman UN Secretary-General

Hopes fading for woman UN Secretary-General

Rediff.com10 Sep 2016

Antonio Guterres, who had served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 10 years, has emerged as the front-runner in the first two rounds of informal voting.

Ex-Portuguese PM Guterres sworn in as UN Secretary-General

Ex-Portuguese PM Guterres sworn in as UN Secretary-General

Rediff.com12 Dec 2016

The former UN refugee chief takes over from Ban Ki-moon on January 1.

Nearly 5mn Indians forced to flee their homes due to disasters in 2021: UN

Nearly 5mn Indians forced to flee their homes due to disasters in 2021: UN

Rediff.com17 Jun 2022

"The largest displacements in the context of disasters in 2021 occurred in China (6.0 million), the Philippines (5.7 million) and India (4.9 million). Most disaster displacements during the year were temporary," it said.

Deplore India's current measures to deport Rohingyas: UN human rights chief

Deplore India's current measures to deport Rohingyas: UN human rights chief

Rediff.com11 Sep 2017

Some 40,000 Rohingyas have settled in India, and 16,000 of them have received refugee documentation, the UN estimates.

US embassy in Dhaka to resume visa services this week

US embassy in Dhaka to resume visa services this week

Rediff.com2 Sep 2024

Helen said the US embassy in Dhaka will resume this week its consular service to expedite visa processing.

India sends relief materials for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

India sends relief materials for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Rediff.com14 Sep 2017

The relief material consists of items required urgently by the affected people, namely rice, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, ready to eat noodles, biscuits, mosquito nets etc, it said.

Jolie, Clint Eastwood, Walken: A day out in Hollywood

Jolie, Clint Eastwood, Walken: A day out in Hollywood

Rediff.com10 Jun 2014

Get your lowdown on what your favourite Hollywood stars have been up to.

736 Afghans seek registration in India from Aug 1 to Sep 11

736 Afghans seek registration in India from Aug 1 to Sep 11

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

According to the data, the total number of persons of concern to UNHCR in India stands at 43,157. Among them, 15,559 refugees and asylum seekers are from Afghanistan.

Peshawar hotel blast toll rises to 16

Peshawar hotel blast toll rises to 16

Rediff.com10 Jun 2009

The death toll in the deadly suicide car bombing -- on a popular five-star hotel in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar -- on Wednesday rose to 16 with the recovery of five more bodies from the rubble of the devastated building. Among the dead were at least three foreigners, including two United Nations employees.Police and rescue workers scoured the burnt out rooms of the Pearl Continental hotel for survivors and clues after the attack.

UN chief to meet Putin, Zelenskyy next week for resolving Ukraine conflict

UN chief to meet Putin, Zelenskyy next week for resolving Ukraine conflict

Rediff.com23 Apr 2022

Guterres will visit Moscow where on April 26 he will "have a working meeting and lunch with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will be received by President Vladimir Putin," Eri Kaneko, associate spokesperson for the secretary-general said on Friday.

UN body moves SC against CAA; India says no locus standi

UN body moves SC against CAA; India says no locus standi

Rediff.com3 Mar 2020

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has approached the Supreme Court seeking to intervene in the hearing on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, saying there was a need to take into account the "international human rights law, norms and standards" in the proceedings.

New UN chief has an Indian connection

New UN chief has an Indian connection

Rediff.com7 Oct 2016

'Antonio Guterres takes over as the UN secretary-general with tremendous goodwill as the process of his election was without the usual horse trading and compromises.' 'We have every reason to believe that he will be sensitive to Indian positions,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Angelina Jolie to UN: 'We are failing to save lives in Syria'

Angelina Jolie to UN: 'We are failing to save lives in Syria'

Rediff.com25 Apr 2015

Actress Angelina Jolie Pitt has strongly criticised the UN Security Council for its lack on unity and political will on resolving the Syrian crisis, stating that the powerful body has the power to address the dire situation but "those powers lie unused".

Jailed ULFA chief wants UN asylum

Jailed ULFA chief wants UN asylum

Rediff.com18 Dec 2008

United Liberation Front of Asom chief Golap Barua alias Anup Chetia has moved the United Nations for refugee status and political asylum in a safe country in the event of his release from a Bangladesh jail. The Indian government wants his to be extradited.

No food, no medicine and little hope: The many challenges Rohingyas face

No food, no medicine and little hope: The many challenges Rohingyas face

Rediff.com25 Aug 2018

Lives "will once again be at risk" if funding is not urgently secured, United Nations officials have said on the eve of the first anniversary of a military crackdown that forced them to flee their country.

India allows Japanese aircraft to lift Ukraine aid from Mumbai

India allows Japanese aircraft to lift Ukraine aid from Mumbai

Rediff.com21 Apr 2022

India on Thursday said it has approved the landing of Japanese commercial aircraft to collect humanitarian supplies from a UN depot in Mumbai for their distribution in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries.

The 'world's deadliest sea crossing' claimed 6 lives a day in 2018

The 'world's deadliest sea crossing' claimed 6 lives a day in 2018

Rediff.com31 Jan 2019

According to a new report from the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, an estimated 2,275 individuals drowned or went missing in the Mediterranean in 2018.

Senior UN official kidnapped in Pakistan

Senior UN official kidnapped in Pakistan

Rediff.com2 Feb 2009

Gunmen kidnapped an American national working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, after killing his driver in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, on Monday. John Solecki, the head of the UNHCR in Balochistan, was on his way to office when the gunmen intercepted his car shortly after he had left his home and opened fire.His driver, Syed Hashim Raza, was hit by bullets and died in the hospital, police said. The gunmen then took Solecki with them.

50 pc drop in asylum-seekers in West over last decade: UN

50 pc drop in asylum-seekers in West over last decade: UN

Rediff.com29 Mar 2011

New figures compiled by the United Nations refugee agency have shown a dramatic fall in the number of asylum-seekers trying to enter the industrialised world over the last decade.

Pak: UN diplomat's kidnappers issue video

Pak: UN diplomat's kidnappers issue video

Rediff.com14 Feb 2009

The kidnappers of an American working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Pakistan on Friday issued a video, in which he sought the world body's help for his release. John Solecki, a UNHCR official who was kidnapped in the southwestern city of Quetta on February 2, was shown blindfolded in the video that was apparently shot with a mobile phone. "It is a message for the United Nations. I am not feeling well. I am sick. I am in trouble," Solecki said.

No place to call home: 653 lakh people displaced in 2015

No place to call home: 653 lakh people displaced in 2015

Rediff.com22 Jun 2016

The total number of displaced people rose to 653 lakh by the end of 2015 from 595 lakh in 2014 -- a 58 lakh increase on the year before.

'Can't even think of returning to Afghanistan'

'Can't even think of returning to Afghanistan'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2021

'It's hell right now'

Turkey politics heats up over delay in post-quake rescue

Turkey politics heats up over delay in post-quake rescue

Rediff.com11 Feb 2023

The confirmed death toll from the deadliest quake in the region in two decades stood at more than 24,000 across southern Turkey and northwest Syria four days after it hit.

3 killed, 20 hurt in suicide blast near UN office in Pak

3 killed, 20 hurt in suicide blast near UN office in Pak

Rediff.com3 Sep 2012

An explosives-laden car rammed a vehicle leaving the United States Consulate in Peshawar city of northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing at least three persons and injuring over a dozen others, including foreigners. The incident occurred a short distance from the US Consulate and an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Aabdara Road in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Antonio Guterres re-elected as UN chief for 2nd term

Antonio Guterres re-elected as UN chief for 2nd term

Rediff.com19 Jun 2021

United Nations General Assembly on Friday appointed Antonio Guterres as the UN Secretary General for a second term beginning January 1, 2022, days after the powerful Security Council unanimously recommended his name to the 193-member body for re-election.

Twitter CEO, staff donate $1.5 million to fight Trump visa ban

Twitter CEO, staff donate $1.5 million to fight Trump visa ban

Rediff.com3 Feb 2017

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and about 1,000 of his colleagues have donated over $1.5 million to a leading rights group that has pledged to fight President Donald Trump's temporary ban on refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.