This time of year marks commemorations of humanitarian crises that have unfortunately persisted for far too long. The Syrian crisis has now been ongoing for 10 years, and the Yemen crisis for 6 years. This reminds us that all our combined efforts are needed more than ever to help the millions forcibly displaced by these crises. While the impact of COVID-19 continues to affect everyone worldwide, in Yemen the effects are also massively compounded by the risk of famine.
The situations in and around CAR, Ethiopia and Mozambique remain very challenging and increased attention is needed to ensure adequate support and awareness. Towards the end of March, a devastating fire raged through Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, claiming lives and destroying the shelters and belongings of over 48,000 refugees.
Despite the challenges faced, however, there is always hope. This month marks both World Health Day and World Creativity and Innovation Day. In this month’s newsletter, we take a look at the innovations used to combat climate challenges, and the creativity fostered through important partnerships such as Canva, which supports our Educate a Child program. Finally, we thank you for your support and for standing with refugees, which allows us to continue this important and life-saving work.
“If you have to choose between buying soap and rice, you will always buy the rice.” UNHCR Representative in Yemen Jean-Nicholas Beuze explains how famine compounds health risks posed by disease. With a fatality rate among the highest worldwide, this crisis cannot be ignored.
As displaced families across the Middle East and North Africa braced for brutal winter conditions, we asked for your help to provide them with life-saving winter assistance. Our Winter Survival Fund, which launched last November, raised $1.26m to help these families stay safe and warm.
UNHCR meets the future by focusing on renewables and eco-friendly refugee camps. We are taking urgent steps to address the pressures caused by climate change and prevent local tensions they can cause by building on the long-term climate resilience of refugee settlements.
More than 1,600 drawings were submitted to the Design for a Cause campaign – a joint partnership between Australia for UNHCR and graphic design platform Canva to help refugee children access education. People from around the world shared stories of hope.
