U.S. Immigration Reform May Finally Help Stateless People
By Sarnata Reynolds Thu, 05/09/2013 - 11:13This post originally appeared on UN Dispatch.
Help Syrians Help Themselves
By Michel Gabaudan Mon, 05/06/2013 - 15:31This post previously appeared in Politico.
Syria’s civil war has become one of the largest humanitarian disasters in recent memory. The number of displaced Syrians is climbing rapidly, and the United Nations now estimates that half of Syria’s 20 million people could need aid by the end of this year. The Obama Administration and Congress have responded generously to the needs of Syrians during the last two years of conflict, but clearly more must be done.
The G8 Plan to Prevent Sexual Violence: Can It Work?
By Guest Wed, 05/01/2013 - 16:26Last month, flanked by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura on one side and spokesperson Angelina Jolie on the other, and with members of the G8 group of nations fanning out in support from behind, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague stood at a press podium to deliver a pledge on behalf of the G8 group of ministers to “end sexual violence in conflict.”
Educating Syria's Children
By Marc Hanson Mon, 04/29/2013 - 13:39An edited version of this piece appeared on The Hill's Congress Blog.
Half Stateless
By Sarnata Reynolds Fri, 04/19/2013 - 12:48This week at the first-ever Conference for the Stateless in Kuwait, I met Omran Al-Garashi. Since 1982, he has been arrested 15 times for his human rights activism. He took on many issues, one of which was the right of more than 100,000 stateless Kuwaitis to nationality. As a citizen, he technically had the right to freedom of speech, but in reality this was not the case. Instead, fighting for the rights of Kuwait’s stateless brought him a step closer to their experience.
Syrian Refugee Crisis: The View From the Turkish Border
By Michel Gabaudan Fri, 04/05/2013 - 17:04This post originally appeared in the Huffington Post.
There are now roughly 200,000 Syrian refugees in 17 camps throughout southeastern Turkey, and this week a Refugees International team visited one such camp in Kilis Province.
Syria's First Responders Need Our Help
By Daryl Grisgraber Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:44This post originally appeared at The Hill's Congress Blog.
Two nights ago, my Refugees International colleagues and I paid a visit to a cramped apartment on the Turkish-Syrian border. Dr. Najjar, a Syrian physician, showed us various types of medical equipment he had gathered over the past week. They will be sent into a northern Syria province in the coming days to resupply hospitals and clinics.
Syrians Falling Through Cracks as Refugee Crisis Grinds On
By Marc Hanson Thu, 03/28/2013 - 13:15This post originally appeared on The Hill's Congress Blog.
Last week in Iraqi Kurdistan, two solemn anniversaries were being commemorated: the chemical weapons attack on Halabja 25 years ago and the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, there was another anniversary that went largely unnoticed: the second anniversary of the conflict in Syria.
After Trials of Winter, Syrian Refugees Face Difficult Summer
By Daryl Grisgraber Fri, 03/22/2013 - 10:47This post originally appeared on The Hill's Congress Blog.
Syria: Towards a More Effective Response
By Daryl Grisgraber Mon, 03/18/2013 - 10:51Starting today, my colleague Marc Hanson and I will be in the Middle East to continue our field research on the situation of Syrian refugees.
RI first looked at this crisis a year ago in Lebanon, when the number of refugees there was relatively small and assistance was distributed largely through local authorities and host families. No one expected the crisis to take on the proportions that it has since, nor last so long.
Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.