"REFUGEES"

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said it was extremely alarmed by reports of the forced return by Cameroon this week of several thousand refugees into violence-affected Borno State in northeast Nigeria. This follows the forced return of 267 Nigerian refugees on 16 January who had arrived in Cameroon in 2014. UNHCR said it was gravely concerned for the safety and well-being of the returnees. UNHCR

Prospects for viable state of Palestine dwindling as settlements expand amid continuing violence, Special Coordinator tells Security Council at 8449th meeting.

Prospects for viable state of Palestine dwindling as settlements expand amid continuing violence, Special Coordinator tells Security Council at 8449th meeting.

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

A spate of migrant shipwrecks and rescues in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days is evidence that urgent action is required from European States to address the issue, the United Nations said on Tuesday. UNTV CH

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Severe weather has affected refugee settlements across Lebanon, forcing many families to live in freezing, damp conditions. As temperatures drop, residents are struggling to remove snow and repair the devastating damage to their tents and health. UNHCR

European authorities are “struggling” to meet the needs of irregular migrants and refugees who are wrongly accused of spreading sickness among host communities, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, at the launch of its first report on the subject. UNTV CH

Berlin’s extensive public transport network and the city’s employment agency have launched an innovative programme to put refugees into the driver’s seat. Sixteen trainees last year completed a year-long course to learn how to navigate the city in the 1,300-bus fleet. Mohamad Al Said, a Syrian refugee, is now steering a course for a new life in Berlin. UNHCR

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urged European governments to agree on a region-wide approach to better protect refugee and migrant children who continue to face grave dangers and violations of their basic rights during dangerous sea journeys and on arrival to Europe. UNICEF