Faced with COVID, Refugees in Tajikistan Struggle to Survive
When Zilme, his wife Sausan, and their three children arrived in Tajikistan in 2013, they hoped to find a better life. They had fled Afghanistan when security conditions declined and it became too dangerous for the family to remain. However, their new life in Tajikistan, while safe, has been one […]
2020 World Refugee Day Statement by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi
We are marking this year’s World Refugee Day against a backdrop of a dramatic global crisis. Not only are record numbers of people forced to flee their homes, but the world is grappling with COVID-19, a disease that is still very much affecting us all. What started as a health […]
The end of statelessness means a fresh start for an ‘invisible’ family
Imagine a 30 year-long life with a feeling of being ‘invisible’ or not belonging anywhere. Three sisters, Dariha, Kamesh and Daniya, had the exact same life experience. They were born in Omsk region, the former Soviet Union, in 1984, 1986 and respectively 1988. In 1990, when the eldest sister was […]
Previously stateless Sevilia, who recently obtained Kyrgyz citizenship, wants to represent Kyrgyzstan abroad
Sevilia Mamedova is a 19-year-old student at the Judicial Academy. She is an athlete and represents Kyrgyzstan in sporting events. But a couple of years ago, the girl did not know whether she could complete school and receive the coveted certificate of general education to enter university. “All my school […]
Refugee university students conduct online lessons to support distance learning in Kyrgyzstan during the coronavirus crisis
Refugee students of local universities conduct extra-curricular lessons via WhatsApp for children from the refugee community in Kyrgyzstan
Formerly stateless, Umijon’s family in Batken received assistance to obtain citizenship
Umijon gets on well with everyone in the area. Congenital deafness does not prevent the 20-year-old from doing work around the house, communicating by mobile phone and playing football with his peers. “Our whole family moved to Uzbekistan in 1993. We worked there and our children studied at local schools. […]
Statement by Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, on the COVID-19 crisis
“With the world mobilizing to combat the spread of COVID-19, many countries are rightly adopting exceptional measures, limiting air travel and cross-border movements. And for many people around the world, everyday life has come to a standstill, or is being transformed in ways that we had never envisaged. But wars […]
UNHCR MUN Refugee Challenge inspires Kazakhstan youth to design solutions for refugee problems
Kazakhstan school students discussed impact of climate change on displacement during the Model United Nations (MUN) Refugee Challenge organized by Haileybury Astana School with the support from UNHCR office in Kazakhstan as part of three-day HASMUN Conference, an educational simulation of a United Nations conference, that took place on 28 […]
Kyrgyzstan furthers young man’s dream of being a doctor
University seemed like an impossible dream for 21-year-old Nazir, who was born stateless. Now he can finally study medicine.
Turkmenistan continues to play a leading role in ending statelessness in Central Asia
In recent years Turkmenistan has achieved significant progress in reducing and preventing statelessness.
Citizenship tastes sweet to Kyrgyzstan beekeeper
Abdusamat Saparov dreamed of being a beekeeper for over 20 years. But without a birth certificate or passport, it seemed impossible.
Intrepid lawyer achieves quest to eradicate statelessness in Kyrgyzstan
Heading out on foot, on horseback and in four-wheel drives, Azizbek Ashurov and his team of lawyers have helped Kyrgyzstan to end statelessness.