| Over half world’s school-age refugee children denied an education. A new report released by UNHCR reveals that of the 7.1 million refugee children of school age, 3.7 million – or more than half – do not go to school. The report, Stepping Up: Refugee Education in Crisis, shows that as refugee children grow older, the barriers preventing them from accessing education become harder to overcome. Only 63 per cent of refugee children go to primary school, compared to 91 per cent globally. Around the world, 84 per cent of adolescents get a secondary education, while only 24 per cent of refugees get the opportunity. The steep decline in refugee enrolment between primary and secondary school is the direct result of lack of funding for refugee education. “School is where refugees are given a second chance,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “We are failing refugees by not giving them the opportunity to build the skills and knowledge they need to invest in their futures.” The UN’s special envoy for global education, Gordon Brown, has called on all donor countries to fund education in emergencies by pledging extra funds during next month’s UN general assembly. | |
| Situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants needs greater global attention. In a statement, Eduardo Stein, Joint UNHCR-IOM Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, has expressed concern that limits on Venezuelans in accessing receiving countries may force them into making irregular journeys, leading to trafficking and smuggling, and exacerbating their vulnerabilities. He also appealed to the international community, including financial institutions and development actors, to reinforce their support to the Venezuelan population, as well as to host countries and local communities. The joint UNHCR-IOM statement said there is “ no end in sight” to the massive movement of Venezuelan migrants and refugees, now at around 4.3 million in number. | | |
| UNHCR: No plan yet to reduce cash assistance for Syrian refugees in Jordan. UNHCR has said it has no plans to reduce the amount of cash assistance it provides to Syrian refugees in Jordan, despite a decrease in funding. Data shows the programme aided close to 130,000 individuals in Jordan with a total of over US$5 million in July alone of this year, almost 120,000 of whom were Syrian refugees. | | |
| Spanish coast guard rescues over 200 refugees in one day. Some 200 refugees and migrants were rescued on Wednesday by the Spanish coast guard as they attempted to make the dangerous crossing from Africa to Spain. Rescuers found them aboard three rafts in the Alboran Sea, between north-eastern Morocco and south-eastern Spain. According to government figures, over 18,000 have arrived in Spain so far this year. | | |
| UK and French ministers hold refugee crisis talks. The British Home Secretary is set to travel to Paris for talks with France’s Interior Minister following recent attempts by asylum-seekers to cross the English Channel. Figures show that more than 220 asylum-seekers – including at least 40 children – have been intercepted by UK and French authorities since 22 August. Campaigners have urged the British Government to put “dignity” and welfare at the heart of any plans. | | |
| After euphoria and anxiety, Germans turn pragmatic on immigration. immigration. According to a new survey , Germans are broadly positive towards immigration and think it benefits the country. Overall, the figures show that almost two thirds of Germans believe immigration is good for the economy and 67 per cent feel that it makes life more interesting, with young people the most positive. In 2015, the country welcomed over 1 million refugees, many of them fleeing war in Syria. | | |
| UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Kristin Davis meets the inspiring refugee women breaking barriers to go to university. | | |
| Even if refugee adolescents overcome the odds and make it through secondary school, only 3 per cent are lucky enough to get a place in some form of higher education. This pales in comparison to the global figure of 37 per cent. | | |
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