Since the Islamist insurgency group Boko Haram began scaling up its attacks on civilians, an estimated 1.3 million Nigerians have been internally displaced and at least another 150,000 have taken refuge in neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. The exodus of Nigerians fleeing the country’s northeastern region for government-sponsored camps or host communities has intensified the…
Central African Republic: The Spotlight is Gone, the Crisis Continues
The civil conflict that has engulfed the Central African Republic for more than two years has displaced nearly 20 percent of the 4.6 million population, both internally and in neighboring countries. In the past year, certain parts of CAR have stabilized, including the capital, Bangui, and international donors have begun to turn their attention toward…
Keeping Refugees on the Agenda for Obama’s Africa Visit
For the sake of Somali refugees like Farah, let’s also hope that refugee rights are on the agenda. For years, Somali refugees in Kenya have faced abuse and extortion at the hands of Kenya’s security services. However, as Kenyan government officials have sought to link the broad refugee population with the threat of terrorism, police…
Letter to President Obama Ahead of Visit to Kenya and Ethiopia
President Obama’s upcoming trip presents an opportunity to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to addressing the core challenges faced by millions of Africans
Africa’s Displaced People
Refugees International’s Ann Hollingsworth testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
Sudanese Refugees in Chad: Passing the Baton to No One
Sudanese refugees in Chad need a more sustainable and targeted assistance strategy.
Central African Republic: The Spotlight is Gone, the Crisis Continues
The civil conflict that has engulfed the Central African Republic for more than two years has displaced nearly a quarter of the population.
Sudanese Refugees: A Botched Hand-off to Development?
From atop a rocky hill in eastern Chad, Ali looked out at Farchana camp, home to almost 26,000 of his fellow refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan. In his field of vision, Ali could see a maze of mud-brick shelters, women chopping firewood, and roving bands of giggling children. But to Ali, all these…
“What Will Happen to Me?”
We are in the refugee camp of Touloum in eastern Chad and the sun is bright. The camp is surrounded by desert for miles in every direction. It is quiet in the camp as we walk through, except for a small group of children who are playing outside and the occasional sound of a donkey…
The Many Faces of CAR’s Displaced
Muslim and Christian, men and women, young and old, urban and rural. My colleague Mark Yarnell and I have spent the last two weeks meeting with internally displaced people (IDPs) across the Central African Republic and with those living across the border as refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We’ve visited those living…