Refugees

May 29, 2007 -- The Department of Homeland Security has developed enhanced security screening procedures for Iraqi refugees applying for resettlement in the U.S. As a first step in fulfilling the Administration's commitment to accept up to 7,000 referrals of the most vulnerable Iraqi refugees – such as persons whose lives may be in jeopardy because they worked for coalition forces – the department is poised to approve the applications of nearly 60 Iraqis.    » read more »

14 May 2007 -- A new report is warning that climate change, development and conflict could force at least one billion people from their homes by 2050. The report from the London-based Christian Aid charity says poor countries will be the hardest hit. Tendai Maphosa has more in this report for VOA from London.

The Christian Aid organization says that while debate in developed countries is often focused on the influx of economic migrants and asylum seekers, internal displacement is a worse, but seldom discussed, problem.    » read more »

11 May 2007 -- UN officials say relatively few displaced people in Somalia have been willing or able to return to Mogadishu. That, despite relative calm in recent weeks. Hundreds of thousands fled the city beginning in early February due to fighting between Ethiopian-backed transitional government forces and the Union of Islamic Courts.

Catherine Weibel is a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR. From Nairobi, she gave VOA English to Africa Service reporter Joe De Capua an update on the displaced Somalis.    » read more »

11 May 2007 -- The U.N. refugee agency says a lull in fighting is enabling it to give assistance to more people in Somalia's capital. The UNHCR also says internally displaced people are slowly trickling back to Mogadishu, but most are waiting to see if the city will stabilize before returning. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.    » read more »

May 11, 2007 -- SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Other Parts of Africa, and the West Bank and Gaza

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including sections 2 and 4(a)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the "Act"), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601 and 2603) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code:    » read more »

10 May 2007 -- U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to increase the number of Iraqis fleeing conflict in Iraq who can be admitted to the United States. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, the focus is on people whose lives are threatened for assisting U.S. and coalition forces, and international organizations in Iraq.

Called The Responsibility to Iraqi Refugees Act, the proposed measure would establish a special immigrant visa program to allow 15,000 Iraqis whose lives are threatened because of their assistance to foreign forces to come to the United States.    » read more »

24 April 2007 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross reports hundreds of civilians caught in fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia have been wounded in the past few days and thousands of people continue to flee. The ICRC warns the health situation in the city is deteriorating. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.

Smoke hovers above the outskirts of Mogadishu, after heavy fighting, 21 Apr 2007
Smoke hovers above the outskirts of Mogadishu, after heavy fighting, 21 Apr 2007    » read more »

Agreement to Swap Refugees Flouts International Law

(New York, April 18, 2007) – A deal between the United States and Australia to trade refugees housed at Guantanamo Bay for those held on the island nation of Nauru upends international refugee standards, Human Rights Watch said today.

“Refugees are human beings, not products that countries can broker and trade,” said Bill Frelick, Refugee Policy director at Human Rights Watch. “The United States and Australia have signed a deal that bargains with lives and flouts international law.”    » read more »

US and UK Bear Special Duty to Aid Refugees

(Geneva, April 17, 2007) – Iraq’s neighbors are closing off escape routes to Iraqi asylum seekers, just as the international community has begun to respond to the 2 million refugees from the war, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.    » read more »