| Record numbers of Syrians displaced in first half of year. A report released by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday has found “unprecedented levels of internal displacement” in Syria, with over one million people displaced between January and June this year as pro-government forces moved to recapture large swathes of territory from rebel groups. The 24-page report notes that most of the displaced are now living in “dire conditions”, often without enough food, water, shelter, medical services or basic sanitation. Earlier this week, UNHCR urgently called for more funding to meet the basic, daily needs of displaced Syrians. The Commission warned that a large proportion of the displaced are now living in Idlib, “where another offensive launched with little regard for civilian life would generate a catastrophic human rights and humanitarian crisis”. | | |
| Fighting resumes in Yemen’s Al Hudaydah as peace talks stall. Air-strikes on the outskirts of Yemen’s main port city on Wednesday reportedly cut off the main road between Al Hudaydah and the capital, Sana’a. The Red Sea port serves as the main gateway for humanitarian aid entering the country. The UN fears that an attack on the port could trigger a severe food crisis in a country where an estimated 8.4 million people are already at risk of starvation. UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths has vowed to press ahead with diplomacy after peace talks due to be held in Geneva on Saturday broke down. The UN estimates that 470,000 people have already fled Al Hudaydah Governorate since early June. | | |
| Ethiopia tops countries worst hit by conflict-related internal displacement. The latest figures from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) show 5.2 million new internal displacements associated with conflict and violence in the 10 worst-affected countries in the first half of 2018. In Ethiopia, 1.4 million new internal displacements were recorded, surpassing both Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most of the new displacement took place in the south-west of the country when conflict between communities in the border areas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region and the Oromia Region broke out in April. On Friday, UNHCR appealed for more funding to support the needs of the displaced. | | |
| UN agencies begin work in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. After getting the green light from the Myanmar government to begin conducting assessments in northern Rakhine state earlier this week, UNHCR and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) began work on Wednesday. The two agencies have been awaiting access since June, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the government to support authorities in starting to create conditions conducive for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees. According to UNHCR, the assessments will begin in 23 villages with the expectation that access will be expanded to all areas of Rakhine covered by the MoU. | | |
| Germany reaches deal with Italy to return asylum-seekers. Germany’s interior minister, Horst Seehofer, told parliament on Thursday that Italy has agreed to take back asylum-seekers who arrive at the German-Austrian border after previously applying for asylum in Italy. Germany has already reached similar agreements with Greece and Spain. In June, Seehofer threatened to turn back asylum-seekers previously registered elsewhere, but Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted that Germany first reach agreements with other countries. Seehofer didn’t reveal details of the agreement with Italy. | | |
| Mounting violence in Cameroon’s anglophone region. Voice of America reports that fighting between armed separatists and the military broke out in five towns and villages in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon on Tuesday, leaving at least 15 people dead and forcing residents to flee the area. In her opening speech to the Human Rights Council on Monday, the UN’s new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, highlighted the worsening crisis in Cameroon’s anglophone region, noting that over 180,000 people had been displaced and were now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. | | |
| A group of young refugees in Uganda’s Nakivale refugee settlement have come together to form the first refugee settlement-based Rotaract club – an organization for young leaders sponsored by Rotary International. Over the past year, club members have promoted girls’ empowerment, mentored other young people and encouraged interaction between refugees of different nationalities. They’ve also forged links with Rotary clubs in nearby towns. | | |
One 1 per cent of refugees progress to tertiary education, compared to 37 per cent of youth globally.
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