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'¡Buenos Días!' from Colombia
Fri, 02/10/2012 - 11:41You're easily fooled upon arrival in Bogotá. You think, "This is it. This is Colombia." At over 9,000 feet above sea level and average temperatures of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, Colombia's capital enjoys an "eternal spring" year round. After a few days in the hospitable climate of Bogotá, I couldn't help but think: "I hope the rest of the country is like this."
The next day I found that such is not the case. For two years now, record-breaking rains have produced the worst flooding in 80 years throughout much of the country.
16 Days: A Dangerous Climate for Women
Fri, 12/02/2011 - 15:21This week, events are taking place across the globe to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, a campaign to end violence against women, which, according to the UN, 70 percent of women will experience in their lifetime.
Climate Displacement: Facing the Human Security Threat
Mon, 11/28/2011 - 09:33Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees briefed the UN Security Council on "New Challenges to Security," highlighting the increasing threat posed by climate change.
His remarks could hardly have come at a better time. In 2010 alone, more than 43 million people were forcibly displaced by sudden-onset natural disasters – just as many as were displaced by conflict. Millions more have had to flee their homes because of slower-onset events like drought and famine.
The UN Refugees Convention at 60: Recognizing a Changing World
Thu, 11/03/2011 - 15:08Next month, the United Nations will hold a high-level ministerial meeting to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugees Convention. For more than half a century, the Convention and its 1967 Protocol have provided protection to millions of vulnerable people fleeing conflict and persecution in their home countries.
Pakistan: New Floods Mean Higher Stakes
Wed, 09/21/2011 - 12:54
It’s flooding again in Pakistan. While not as severe as last year’s unprecedented deluge – which affected 20 million people – this year’s floods are nonetheless severe, and likely to grow worse. Since the onset of the monsoons in August, 5.4 million people have been affected and more than 800,000 displaced to shelters and informal camps.
RI's Web Roundup
Tue, 08/02/2011 - 15:25
In Washington and much of the U.S., all eyes have been on the debate over the debt limit. While our elected officials squabbled away, here are some stories you may have missed:
Pakistan: One year after the floods
Tue, 07/26/2011 - 00:00This post originally appeared on The Hill's Congress blog.
RI's Web Roundup
Tue, 07/12/2011 - 15:17The Horn of Africa – Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda – is experiencing the worst drought in 60 years, leaving millions of people to face starvation and overflowing refugee camps.
Horn of Africa: Without food, without water, without options
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 14:43
The Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst drought in almost sixty years affecting ten million people. Somalia is one of the nations in the region hit hardest by the extreme lack of rain. It is also one of the poorest and most crisis-prone countries on the planet. Somalia is experiencing the driest season on record since the mid-20th century, resulting in widespread famine.
“When there is no water and hence no food, people must move or they will die,” says Alice Thomas, RI’s Climate Displacement Program Manager. “And moving they are – and in great numbers.”
“When there is no water and hence no food, people must move or they will die,” says Alice Thomas, RI’s Climate Displacement Program Manager. “And moving they are – and in great numbers.”
Learning from Natural Disasters
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 14:54In the last few years, countries across the globe have seen a sharp increase in devastating weather-related events. Parts of Colombia are experiencing heavy rains that have lasted for a year now. In the United States, the Midwest experienced the region's wettest April, while Texas had the state's driest April in a century. It is clear that we are seeing increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disasters, such as drought, floods, and catastrophic storms.
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.