Critics say British policy hypocritical
Guardian (UK) Dec 1, 08 4:58 AM CST
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An African policy group is accusing the UK of deporting immigrants who were being treated for HIV to almost certain death in places where they will be unable to acquire drugs needed to survive. Advocates call the move hypocritical since Britain is a vocal backer of an international declaration calling for universal access to AIDS drugs, the Guardian reports.
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In country's east, rebels and army abandon citizens
New York Times Nov 19, 08 5:55 AM CST
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Bewildered residents in eastern Congo talk of the "front line" separating rebel territory from areas controlled by the army. But no such line exists—only a jumble of unstable, chaotic territories with no checkpoints or fortifications, reports the New York Times . While a ceasefire between the two sides seems to be holding, residents of the troubled limbo zone are sinking into desperation.
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EU, African Union scramble to broker peace deal as Nkunda attacks
Guardian (UK) Nov 3, 08 7:27 AM CST
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European and African officials held crisis talks last night to avert a complete meltdown in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the civil war risks degenerating into genocide. The diplomatic push came as Laurent Nkunda, the Tutsi general, led 10,000 rebels into battle in a province bordering Rwanda, which supports him. Thousands of refugees have been displaced once again, and the UN called the humanitarian situation "catastrophic."
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US appeal of ruling strands 17, held since 2001 without charge
Guardian (UK) Nov 1, 08 4:13 PM CDT
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17 Chinese prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay will stay there indefinitely pending an appeal of a judge’s decision that they be released, the Guardian reports. “They were on freedom's doorstep," their frustrated lawyer said. “The plane was at Gitmo.” Refugee and religious organizations in the US have offered to take the men in. They were captured by Pakistani troops in Afghanistan in 2001 and turned over to the US, but they have never been charged with any crimes.
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Goodwill ambassador visited refugees, urges international aid
UNHCR Oct 24, 08 5:00 PM CDT
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Angelina Jolie made a trip to Afghanistan last week in her role as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, spending two days among the country's returning refugees. The actress visited sites where thousands of Afghans live in makeshift housing and struggle to find work, problems that typify the stress the massive repatriation has had on the region, reports the UNHCR.
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Tribal areas become war zone as government steps up assault on militants
New York Times Oct 3, 08 6:12 AM CDT
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Pakistan's escalating confrontation with the Taliban has plunged the country into full-scale war, the New York Times reports. A quarter of a million people have fled the fighting as the Pakistani army attacks the militants in tribal areas on at least three fronts, and 20,000 have flooded in desperation over the border into Afghanistan. "This is now a war zone," warned a Red Cross spokesman.
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500 to 800 souls took refuge at a convention center in Galveston during Ike's assault
Washington Post Sep 13, 08 12:20 PM CDT
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A motley crew rode out Hurricane Ike at Galveston’s San Luis Resort, Spa, & Conference Center, Joel Achenbach writes for the Washington Post . Up to 800 people were there, among them the mayor, cops and firefighters, along with storm chasers and drenched refugees holed up as the wind roared and TV newscasts forecast doom. “I am afraid we may be in danger. I am afraid for everyone here,” one mother wrote in her journal.
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Former Darfur rebels among 102 still aboard as talks continue
AFP Aug 26, 08 3:14 PM CDT
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A Sudanese flight hijacked today after lifting off from a Darfur airport has landed in Libya, the AFP reports. Authorities are still negotiating with hijackers; three former members of a rebel group are said to be among 102 on board. Yesterday, the UN reported 33 dead after a clash between the Sudanese military and refugees in the region. “I’m not sure if it’s connected,” a rebel leader said, “but it’s related to that.”
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With Mugabe looking ready to hold on to power at all costs, exodus is expected
Times (UK) Jun 21, 08 9:40 AM CDT
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Zimbabwe's neighbors are preparing for a flood of refugees after next week's election, the London Times reports. About 3 million have already fled Robert Mugabe's regime to South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana. As it becomes increasingly clear that Mugabe will not give up power even if he loses the election, it is feared that millions more will soon be driven out.
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UN info on displaced peoples now available through Earth mapping feature
Associated Press Apr 8, 08 5:45 PM CDT
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A new feature allows Google Earth users to take a tour of the world’s refugee hotspots, with images of camps supplemented by information from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the AP reports. The search titan has greatly improved the available resolution in its satellite photos of refugee areas—for example, individual tents are visible in a Chadian camp for Darfur’s displaced.
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First installment of $550M for strapped Palestinian Authority
Reuters Mar 19, 08 6:47 PM CDT
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The US promised today to transfer $150 million in aid to the economically ailing Palestinian Authority, marking the first installment of $550 million the US pledged at a donors' conference in December, Reuters reports. The contribution will be the largest single donation since the Authority was launched in 1994, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said.
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Speeds up glacial pace of resettlement
CNN Feb 5, 08 3:47 AM CST
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The State Department plans to admit 12,000 Iraqi refugees into the US by September, despite resettling only 375 so far this year, CNN reports. Ambassador James Foley, charged with the task of accelerating resettlement, vowed to reporters that the pace will pick up in the coming months. The US promised to resettle 7,000 Iraqis in America last year but only moved in 1,600.
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350K displaced in Iraq; US military begs Baghdad to build new housing
Washington Post Dec 16, 07 5:35 PM CST
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Baghdad shocked Washingto