-
Afghan refugees in search of Indian identity
19 May 2005 Thousands of Afghan refugees of Sikh and Hindu faiths have lived in India for over a decade, sharing religious and cultural ties with the local community. For many, naturalised citizenship is often the best long-term solution, if they can overcome obstacles like the long and complicated application process. -
Sri Lankan tsunami victims get new temporary homes
8 Apr 2005 Tsunami-displaced families in Ampara district in eastern Sri Lanka started getting new homes on Thursday as the UN refugee agency handed over 42 temporary houses in Kalmunai as part of a pilot housing project. The task of providing temporary homes has been made more urgent with the onset of the monsoon rains which are forcing some displaced people out of their tents and into temples, churches and schools. -
Italian concert raises euros 1m for Sri Lanka's conflict and tsunami victims
22 Mar 2005 A star-studded concert featuring Italian artistes like Andrea Bocelli, Claudio Baglioni and Zucchero has raised 1 million euros for the UN refugee agency's assistance to people affected by the conflict and tsunami in Sri Lanka. -
UNHCR outlines post-tsunami role in Sri Lanka
4 Feb 2005 UNHCR's Asia Pacific bureau director, Janet Lim, has stated that the refugee agency will continue to assist conflict- and tsunami-displaced people in the north and east, with a shorter-term relief role in the south. She also emphasised the need for proper registration to better target aid. -
Getting aid from the warehouse to the homeless in Sri Lanka
19 Jan 2005 Overcoming bumpy roads, broken bridges, security checkpoints and other logistical logjams, UNHCR in Sri Lanka brings shelter and non-food relief items to the displaced people who need them most. -
Consult Sri Lanka's displaced people before move, urges UNHCR
11 Jan 2005 The Sri Lankan government has announced plans to clear all temporary accommodation centres by January 20. The UN refugee agency has urged it to involve the tsunami-displaced in relocation plans, and is working with the Human Rights Commission to restore their personal and property documents. -
UNHCR airlift arrives in Sri Lanka with 60 tonnes of relief aid
10 Jan 2005 The UN refugee agency in Colombo has received 60 tonnes of relief supplies from its warehouse in Copenhagen. The 10,000 pieces of plastic sheeting and five portable warehouses will go a long way to helping hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Sri Lanka. -
UNHCR sends aid to "lost" village in eastern Sri Lanka
5 Jan 2005 As the refugee agency steps out of its usual role to help tsunami victims in Sri Lanka, a local UNHCR finance officer works tirelessly to bring emergency shelter to a village where more than 4,000 people spent a week sleeping outdoors, pounded mercilessly by seasonal rains. -
Massive UNHCR airlift gets underway for tsunami victims
2 Jan 2005 A giant Antonov 124 cargo plane loaded with 100 tonnes of urgent relief supplies leaves Denmark to spearhead a massive UNHCR airlift operation aimed at providing vital aid to 100,000 people in Indonesia's tsunami-battered Aceh province. The three-day airlift operation will deliver 400 tonnes of aid from UNHCR stockpiles in Denmark and Dubai. On the ground, meanwhile, UNHCR's logistics and supply teams set up advance bases in northern Sumatra, while the refugee agency continues round-the-clock relief operations in Sri Lanka.