U.S. Aid Runs Through Displacement Camp ‘Gatekeepers’ in Mogadishu
By Dara McLeod Thu, 09/27/2012 - 16:11
This post originally appeared at ThinkProgress Security.
Yesterday, I met with a man in Mogadishu whose business was the target of a suicide attack. Ahmed is a British-Somali who returned to the country in 2008 and went on to open up several popular restaurants. Last Thursday, two suicide bombers walked into one of those restaurants and killed 15 of Ahmed’s patrons and staff.
U.S. Needs Clear Strategy to Solve Crises in Africa’s Sahel Region
By Alice Thomas Tue, 09/25/2012 - 11:22This post originally appeared at ThinkProgress Security.
Poverty and malnutrition are chronic in the countries of the Sahel, a region in northern Africa stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and the surrounding area is hardly a paragon of political stability. This year, however, a confluence of man-made and natural disasters has sent the region into a tailspin.
In Speech to a Challenged UN, Three Tasks for Obama
By Michelle Brown Thu, 09/20/2012 - 11:14As the 67th General Assembly opens this week, and as the United Nations gears up for the countless high-level meetings and side events that follow, the enormity of the challenges facing the UN is striking.
Displaced Somalis Lack Resources to Make Better Life
By Dara McLeod Tue, 09/18/2012 - 10:36This post first appeared on The Hill's Congress Blog.
The first thing you notice are the colors. The vibrant reds, blues, and greens of the multi-colored domes that dot an otherwise dry and dusty landscape. From a distance, it could almost be described as beautiful. But as we drive closer, the domes transform into the crude and woefully inadequate shelters of thousands of displaced Somalis.
A Friend’s Tribute to Ambassador Chris Stevens
By Michael Boyce Fri, 09/14/2012 - 10:17Roya Hakakian is a member of the Board of Refugees International. This post originally appeared at The Daily Beast.
By Roya Hakakian
“Eating on the floor of a house under the ground! The food was an interesting barley paste, covered with very hot tomato soup. Another adventure in Libya. How are you? C”
RI to the Security Council: Assist and Protect the People of the Sahel
By Michael Boyce Thu, 09/13/2012 - 14:49Today, RI submitted an open letter to the members of the UN Security Council. With the UN scheduled to convene a high-level meeting on the Sahel on September 26, the letter puts before the Council recommendations for assisting and protecting vulnerable populations in the region. It urges Council members to ramp up humanitarian and development assistance in the Sahel, and demands that any UN-approved peacekeeping force in the region protect civilians and support humanitarian efforts.
September 13, 2012
Dear Ambassador,
Into the Field: Somalia's Long-Suffering IDPs
By Mark Yarnell Mon, 09/10/2012 - 11:58
This week, Refugees International is embarking on a field mission to Somalia, where we will assess the conditions of – and gaps in response for – the more than 1.3 million Somalis who are internally displaced. Our team plans to visit IDP settlements in the capital, Mogadishu, as well as in the breakaway regions of Puntland and Somaliland.
As Olympics Begin, a Reason to Celebrate
By Michael Boyce Thu, 07/26/2012 - 17:43By now you may have heard that refugee marathoner Guor Marial, who was featured on this blog last week, has been allowed to compete as an independent athlete at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The decision, which was confirmed to RI in a letter from International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, is a triumph for Guor and his supporters - some of whom worked tirelessly for months to make his Olympic dream a reality.
Sudan Refugee's Olympic Dreams in Jeopardy
By Michael Boyce Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:50This week, thousands of athletes and staff are arriving in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics, which kick off on July 27. But there is one deserving athlete whose invitation hasn't yet arrived. His name is Guor Marial, and last month he qualified for the Olympic marathon with the blistering time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 55 seconds.
Women & Children: Equal Dignity, Equal Assistance
By Marcy Hersh Tue, 07/10/2012 - 16:16
As the new Senior Advocate for Women & Children’s Rights, I am thrilled to join the RI team and lead this important program to improve access to basic services and protection for women and girls displaced by conflict and crisis.
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.