In commemoration of World Refugee Day 2015, Refugees United (REFUNITE) is pleased to announce the launch of a countrywide SMS campaign in partnership with mobile network operator Telesom in Somaliland to help forcefully displaced families find their missing loved ones. A helpline has been provided to encourage families to register on the global family-tracing platform. Two decades of civil war has had a devastating impact on the people of Somaliland. Many have lost family members, friends, neighbours, as well as homes and livelihoods. According to the UN Refugee agency, UNHCR, there are currently 1,106,068 refugees and 1,133,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) originating…

The story below was recalled by Somali refugee Fatuma Abdi*. The details described are accurate to the best of her recollection.

Each year, world leaders convene in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. At this year’s event, there was much focus on the refugee crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres stated that UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has never had to address so much human misery in its 64-year history as it does today.  The current refugee crisis has left more than 51.2 million displaced – the highest number since World War II. At the ‘Technology for Humanity’ dinner in Davos, which was attended by 100 leaders from civil society, the private sector and government,…

Descending through the thin layer of clouds, the arid landscape of Dadaab appears below, pockmarked by the blue tents of the UNHCR hosting weary refugees. As we approach the short landing strip, the warm winds rising rattle the little propeller plane, dipping the wings on either side. Having left behind chilly Nairobi at 6 am, the warmth of Dadaab is a brief respite for my freezing toes, though soon, I, along with everyone else, wish for cooler weather – even during this winter “chill.” I disembark with a flurry of butterflies and head off to greet our partners, the wonderful…

Fleeing is never voluntary. This 30-second TV spot is meant to emphasize the message that asylum means survival. A house of matches set alight illustrates the idea of forced displacement. To learn more go to: unhrc.at – campaign to debunk asylum myths in Austria (Source: https://www.youtube.com/)