The UN refugee agency today welcomed the European Commission's proposals unveiled on Wednesday to address the current refugee crisis in Europe. "Given the urgency of the situation, these proposals need to be implemented fully and swiftly," UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler told a press briefing in...

GENEVA, Sept 18 (UNHCR) – Following yesterday's mayhem on the Serbian border with Croatia, which has closed some entry points, the UN refugee agency today issued a stark warning that time was running out for Europe to resolve the current refugee crisis. UNHCR blamed the continuing absence of a co...

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 8 September 2015, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Deteriorating conditions inside Syria and neighbouring countries are driving thousands of Syrians to ...

The recent successive announcements of different border control measures by a number of European countries impacted by the refugee and migration crisis only underlines the urgency of establishing a comprehensive European response. This response must be based on the creation of effective reception...

We have met the authorities here in Budapest and have offered UNHCR's assistance to deal with the increasing number of refugees and migrants arriving in Hungary. We have repeated our call for simplifying and streamlining registration, reception at the collection points, registration centres and r...

UNHCR welcomes the decision of Austria and Germany to receive thousands of refugees and migrants who crossed the border last night from Hungary. This is political leadership based on humanitarian values. UNHCR also praises the civil society groups and individuals of Austria and Germany who are mo...

GENEVA, Sept 4, (UNHCR) – The head of the UN refugee agency António Guterres, emphasizing the European Union faced a "defining moment", has laid out a set of key guidelines which he says should underpin all efforts to resolve the current refugee and migration crisis facing Europe. Guterres said t...

BUDAPEST, Sept 4 (UNHCR) – An angry confrontation between police and refugees on a blocked train just outside Budapest; a makeshift camp of stranded Syrians, Afghans and others at the capital's main railway station; more than 2,000 refugees crossing into the country from Serbia each day – the contou...

GENEVA, Aug 28 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency said it was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the grim discovery yesterday of the bodies of 71 people inside a truck abandoned near the Austrian border with Hungary. "This tragedy underscores the ruthlessness of people smugglers who have expanded thei...

GENEVA, Sept 24, (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency today welcomed a decision by European Union leaders to boost resources for humanitarian assistance to countries neighbouring war-torn Syria. UNHCR, in a statement issued after the European Council decision, also welcomed a parallel decision to relo...