Peteris’s dangerous journey: saving 2,000 lives in WWII
A woodpecker is working hard on one of the trees surrounding Peteris Jansons’s house on Gotland, Sweden’s largest island. Spring seems to have finally reached Scandinavia and Peteris, 92 years old and his wife Inga, 89, are preparing to celebrate their seventieth wedding anniversary in April. They met on this very island in 1943, when Peteris arrived by boat after fleeing from Latvia so as not to have to serve as a soldier in the German army, which at that time had occupied his country.
Observations from UNHCR on Lithuanian law proposal on access to asylum procedure
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has submitted our observations to the Lithuanian government’s proposed amendments to the Lithuanian Aliens Law. The proposal introduces restrictions on the access to apply for asylum in Lithuania, for instance regarding the court’s...
A Syrian refugee in Latvia: Bashar builds a new life in Riga
Bashar Yousef was living in Latvia as a student when the war in Syria broke out in 2011. Hearing all the news about the atrocities taking place in his home country led him to the conclusion that it was much safer to stay in Latvia.
‘Art for Social Change’: Positive experience in Latvia inspires Swede to coach young refugees in Norrköping
When Carl Biörsmark graduated from high school in the eighties in Norrköping, Sweden, he didn’t envisage that in 30 years he would become one of the first integration coaches in the country.
Lithuania donates to UNHCR to help Syrian refugees
As part of the international community’s emergency response to Syria, Lithuania has donated LTL 70,000 (USD 26,237) to UNHCR to assist and protect Syrian refugees.
Lithuania donates €50,000 to UNHCR to help people forced to flee their homes in Ukraine
At the end of December 2014, the Republic of Lithuania donated €50,000 to the UNHCR Internally Displaced People (IDPS) Operation in Ukraine. This donation is amongst the largest contributions Lithuania has made to UNHCR’s humitarian operations.
UNHCR’s observations on proposal to amend the law on granting international protection in Estonia
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has submitted our observations to the Estonian government’s proposed amendments of the Estonian Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens. UNHCR notes a number of important changes and improvements in the law proposal, but would...
Sweden Supports the Emergency Response in Iraq
Sweden has sent two military Hercules airplanes with emergency supplies to Erbil as part of UNHCR’s massive 10-day operation to help about 500,000 people caught in Iraq’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
Denmark supports UNHCR with USD 10.3 million to refugee emergencies
UNHCR is grateful for Denmark’s continued strong support to refugee emergencies. Denmark is the only donor to contribute with an Emergency Fund at the start of each year of USD 8.8 million (DKK 50.5 million), which is solely at UNHCR’s discretion to allocate where the need is the greatest.
Finland strengthens its support to UNHCR
UNHCR thanks Finland for its significant support to UNHCR. Finland recently donated USD 12.4 million to the Syria crisis and for UNHCR operations in Africa and Asia, adding to the support so far of USD 22.4 million in 2014.
Denmark contributes with USD 4 million to the CAR and South Sudan crises
UNHCR is grateful for Denmark’s important USD 4 million contribution that will alleviate the acute needs for many of the people who have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence in South Sudan and the CAR.
UNHCR’s observations to proposal to amend criteria for selection of refugees for resettlement to Denmark
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has submitted its observations to Denmark’s proposal to amend the criteria for selection of refugees to be resettled to Denmark. The observations are available here....