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Centres bring affordable day care for refugee mothers in Costa Rica
25 Aug 2006 Many refugee women need to work to support themselves and their families, but a shortage of day care facilities restricts their chances of finding employment. In the Costa Rican capital of San José, UNHCR is addressing the problem by helping open day care centres run by refugee women and local mothers. -
UNHCR urges armed groups to leave Colombia's indigenous people alone
9 Aug 2006 UNHCR marked World Indigenous Day with a warning that armed conflict in Colombia threatens the existence of the country's indigenous people. The refugee agency called on all armed groups to keep the civilian population out of their fight. -
Little for Colombia's ethnic Awá to celebrate on World Indigenous Day
8 Aug 2006 On Wednesday, the United Nations will mark World Indigenous Day. In Colombia, where armed conflict is putting enormous pressure on the survival of indigenous culture, it will be a day of worried reflection for the more than 80 indigenous groups spread around the country. The latest violence has forced hundreds of the Awá indigenous people to flee their homes in the south-west. -
How photography has changed the life of a young Colombian refugee
3 Aug 2006 Fifteen-year-old José Romero was hooked on photography after taking a short course last year and the Colombian refugee's skill with the camera has already won him a major prize and public exposure in Mexico. -
More families flee unrest near Colombia's northern border with Panama
2 Aug 2006 The department of Chocó in northern Colombia has seen a marked increase in violence and forced displacement in recent weeks. The government has sent reinforcements to boost troop strength along the Atrato River, but families are too scared to return to their riverine communities near the border with Panama. -
UNHCR struggles to reach out to Colombian refugees in Ecuador
21 Jul 2006 The shifting of the Colombian conflict away from the cities and towards border regions is putting increasing pressure on neighbouring countries. Ecuador registers several hundred new Colombian asylum seekers every month, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. The biggest challenge facing UNHCR in Ecuador is to reach out to all those in need of protection in the country. -
Reaching out to Colombians in need of assistance in northern Ecuador
23 Jun 2006 The northern provinces of Ecuador are home to many Colombians who have crossed the border to escape violence in their homeland. Efforts by UNHCR and its partners to assist this population of concern are hampered by the high level of mobility of the refugees and the fact that many are too scared to come out of hiding and seek protection. -
Reaping the artistic fruits of working for peace in Colombia
20 Jun 2006 An innovative Colombian art project is to receive an award today from the Dutch non-governmental organisation and UNHCR partner, Stichting Vluchteling, to mark World Refugee Day. The award is the culmination of years of dedicated work to bring peace and reconciliation through art to young people in a violence-plagued Colombian city. -
UNHCR official says Colombia can ease humanitarian tragedy with help
13 Jun 2006 UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Judy Cheng-Hopkins said she was worried about the numbers of Colombian refugees and internally displaced people in the country. But the official, wrapping up a week-long tour of Colombia and Ecuador, believed the country could alleviate the problem with international help.