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Over 4,000 Venezuelans enter Colombia every day looking to stay or continue their journey southwards. Thousands do it on foot, crossing Simón Bolívar International Bridge.
Besem Obenson is Head of Sub Office-Medellín in Colombia. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Besem has worked for the UN Refugee Agency for more than a decade. On a recent trip to Colombia, we met with Besem to hear how UNHCR is responding to the crisis unfolding in Venezuela.
In September, USA for UNHCR’s Nic Feeney traveled to Colombia to meet Venezuelans fleeing the crisis in their home country and to witness first-hand how UNHCR is providing support and protection to those in need.
We recently spoke with UNHCR's Besem Obenson to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting Venezuelan refugees living in Medellín, Colombia.
Approximately 1.7 million displaced Venezuelans will now benefit from added protection, security and stability through a ten-year temporary protection status (TPS).
Millions of Syrians have been displaced internally by their civil war or fled abroad, but few have gone as far as Ahmed to escape the violence.
Maria fled Venezuela with her granddaughter seeking safety and a chance for a new start. At Centro de Atencion al Migrante (CAMIG), a shelter in Bogota, we hear firsthand why more than 4.5 million have fled the country in recent years.
In Colombia and across the globe, your ongoing support is helping refugees forced to flee their homes in search of safety and a brighter future. But to continue empowering and protecting refugees in these ongoing crises, every program and initiative will need to be scaled up. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help these efforts, reaching more people in urgent need.
In Colombia and across the globe, your ongoing support is helping refugees forced to flee their homes in search of safety and a brighter future. But to continue empowering and protecting refugees in these ongoing crises, every program and initiative will need to be scaled up. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help these efforts, reaching more people in urgent need.
After being forced to flee her home in Colombia due to gang violence, Laura Londono found a new home in Providence. Now, she has her sights set on the stars with her goal of becoming an astronaut.
From the islands of Greece to the shores of Bangladesh to the hills of Colombia, USA for UNHCR donors changed the lives of refugees in 2020. Refugees were forced to flee for their lives, and then came the threat of a global health crisis. But because of incredible kind and caring American donors, refugees had hope. They were able to receive the information and care that they needed to stay safe and limit the spread.
More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014 because of political strife, human rights abuses and lack of economic opportunity.
Many are risking their lives, either wading across torrential rivers or risking exploitation and abuse by armed groups controlling treacherous irregular paths.
Dedicated teachers ensure that Venezuelan refugee children stay in school.
“When I crossed the border and I saw the jackets of UNHCR, I said, ‘I will live.’”
More than 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled the country to escape violence, gang warfare as well as lack of food, medicine and essential services. It is the largest exodus in Latin America’s recent history.
With a planned gift you provide reliable support for families when they need it most and enable the UN Refugee Agency to plan for urgent and long-term situations.
Looking for good news in 2021? Here are three outstanding achievements that will change the future of millions of refugees and displaced people worldwide
Venezuelans like Lisette and Johnny are now living in neighboring Latin American countries where they can access food, medical care, legal services, educational opportunities and more.
USA for UNHCR is pleased to announce the launch of a new microsite, Refugee Voices in Your Community, an interactive map featuring refugee stories from across the U.S. and around the world.
Every day of the year, and on every step of the journey, our dedicated partners made possible our work of delivering safety and protection to millions of refugees and forcibly displaced communities worldwide. As we begin the new year, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the highlights USA for UNHCR donors helped us provide in 2019
Thanks to the timely action of donors from around the world, UNHCR was able to respond in record time to the earthquake in Ecuador.
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so.
The commitment and generosity of USA for UNHCR’s donors in 2020 helped deliver aid to vulnerable refugee families during the most difficult times.