refugees

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is claiming a major victory for her government's migration policies, declaring that Italy is no longer carrying Europe's refugee burden. "Today we can say that Italy is no longer Europe's refugee camp," she said, framing it as proof that her hard-line approach to irregular arrivals is working and drawing strong reactions from supporters and critics alike.

ReliefWeb has published the 57th flash update on the Sudan situation in eastern Chad, where hundreds of thousands of people who fled the war in Sudan continue to live in refugee camps and host communities. The updates track humanitarian needs, new arrivals and aid operations in the border region. The latest edition signals that the cross-border displacement crisis remains an ongoing concern for relief agencies.

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi reportedly met with the former head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the controversial US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution group that replaced UN-led relief efforts in Gaza. The question of why such a meeting took place is drawing scrutiny, given that UN agencies have publicly criticised the foundation's operations and warned its aid model violates humanitarian principles.

The US-led Board of Peace has announced that UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, will have no role in Gaza going forward. The statement marks a significant decision about the administration of humanitarian aid and services in the territory, and is likely to draw strong reactions from the UN, Palestinian representatives and humanitarian organisations.

Hamas has condemned the Board of Peace for refusing to work with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in Gaza. The dispute centres on which body should deliver aid and services in the territory. The row highlights growing friction over the international framework being set up to govern Gaza's reconstruction and relief efforts.

Djibouti has called on the international community to provide assistance as the war in Yemen pushes a growing flow of refugees and migrants across the Red Sea to its shores. The small Horn of Africa nation says it is struggling to cope with the influx, and is seeking support for shelter, food and aid services for those fleeing the conflict.

The UK is set to open new refugee resettlement routes specifically for Afghan women and Palestinians, according to a Guardian report. The announcement would create dedicated pathways for two groups seen as among the most vulnerable in current displacement crises. Details on numbers, eligibility and timing have not yet been made clear, and the plan is likely to prompt debate over the government's wider asylum policy.

The Board of Peace has stated that its policy regarding UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, remains unchanged in Gaza. The statement was reported by Middle East Monitor. No further details about the board's reasoning or any reactions were provided, and the significance of the timing of the declaration is not yet clear.

The UK government is set to launch new refugee resettlement routes for Afghan women and girls and Palestinians, according to a Guardian report flagged by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood around the Labour Party conference. The announcement comes as Labour faces pressure over its asylum and migration policy, and the move is drawing attention as a notable shift in who the UK will accept for resettlement.

The UK government is set to open new refugee resettlement routes for Afghan women and girls as well as Palestinians, according to a report in the Guardian. The announcement is linked to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and marks a shift in UK resettlement policy. The scheme is expected to offer safe pathways for groups facing acute risk, though details on eligibility and numbers have not yet been fully outlined.

Al Jazeera reports that the Board of Peace, the framework overseeing Gaza's future, has ruled out any role for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in the territory. Critics say the decision echoes long-standing Israeli demands to remove the agency, raising questions about whether the board is pursuing an independent approach or following Israeli policy lines on Gaza's postwar administration.

The former head of UNRWA says the Gaza Board of Peace, the body established under Donald Trump's ceasefire framework, held unpublicised meetings with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. The contact would be notable given Israel's push to dissolve UNRWA and its exclusion from the Trump plan, suggesting the agency still has a role in Gaza's humanitarian future.

The Trump administration has cancelled funding for programmes serving refugees, immigrants and other groups, a move that lawmakers argue is illegal. Critics in Congress say the cuts exceed the administration's legal authority, while the administration defends the cancellations as part of its broader immigration agenda. The decision affects organisations that rely on federal money to provide resettlement and support services.

The Trump administration has cancelled federal funding for programmes serving refugees, immigrants and other groups, saying the services are no longer needed. The cuts affect organisations that provide resettlement assistance and related support. Critics are likely to challenge the move, which signals a continued sharp reduction in government spending on immigration and refugee programs.

The Catholic Church in Kenya is calling for stronger protection of refugee and migrant children, urging authorities and communities to safeguard unaccompanied and vulnerable minors from exploitation and abuse. The appeal, reported by Vatican News, highlights the risks children face while displaced and pushes for policies that prioritise their safety, education and access to basic services.

The Board of Peace has decided to exclude the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operations in Gaza. The move aligns with repeated Israeli government calls to sideline the refugee aid agency, and marks a significant shift in who will deliver humanitarian assistance in the territory. Observers are weighing what the decision means for aid delivery to Palestinian refugees, given UNRWA's long-standing role as the main UN agency serving them in Gaza and the wider region.

Pope Leo XIV has issued his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with the full text published by Catholic News Service/OSV News. The annual message is closely watched for the Pope's stance on migration, refugee protection and how Catholic institutions and governments should respond to displaced people worldwide.

A priest injured in an attack at a monastery in Poland has publicly urged people not to blame Ukrainians for the incident. His appeal is drawing attention amid concerns that the attack could fuel anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland, where tensions over the war and refugee presence have occasionally flared online and in public debate.

Pope Leo travelled to Lourdes, the French shrine long known as a refuge for the sick and disabled, and used the occasion to speak out against legalised assisted dying. The message framed the pilgrimage site as a symbol of care for the vulnerable, contrasting with moves in several countries to permit euthanasia.

Hamas has accused the Board of Peace of aligning with Israel after the body excluded UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, from its operations in Gaza. The Palestinian group says the exclusion demonstrates bias against Palestinians and undermines the agency's critical humanitarian role. The dispute adds new friction to international efforts over Gaza's future and the delivery of aid.

Asylum systems worldwide are under strain as wealthy countries restrict access, and commentators are asking who is responsible for undermining the right to seek protection. The socialist magazine Jacobin poses the question directly in a piece asking 'Who Killed Asylum?', reflecting a broader left critique of tightening border policies and the erosion of international refugee protections.