World | WPN World People News

With one-fifth of the world’s 100 million forcibly displaced people hosted in the Americas, urgent action is needed to respond to and resolve their plight, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said, as he concluded a week-long visit to the region, where he met with displaced people, community leaders and national and local authorities.

Russia said Thursday there were no signs of readiness for peace from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington.

Children living a displaced persons camp in Afghanistan.

The humanitarian community in South Sudan launched its 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan, on December 20. The plan seeks US$1.7 billion to provide life-saving assistance and livelihood support to 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people affected by conflict, climatic shocks and protracted displacement across the country.

Conflict, climate change and disasters are pushing people out of their homes, confronting risks of trafficking and exploitation.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply dismayed that repeated calls to rescue and safely disembark people stranded on boats in the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca are not being heeded. It warns that inaction from States to save lives is resulting in more human misery and tragedies, each passing day.

The United States imposed new economic sanctions on Russian financial interests Thursday, targeting one of the country’s richest businessmen, Vladimir Potanin, and his family, in the latest effort to pressure Moscow over its war against Ukraine.

Peru announced a nationwide 30-day state of emergency Wednesday in response to protests sparked by the ouster of President Pedro Castillo.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai during his visit to India.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, commends the steps the Government of Kenya is taking to resolve the long-term problem of statelessness for the Pemba people in Kenya.