Archive for category: Refugees and Displaced Persons

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How UNHCR is Giving Aid to Congolese Refugees and Burundi Returnees

Congolese Refugees
The M23 armed group emerged in 2012 from former members of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), taking its name from a March 23, 2009, peace agreement. The peace agreement provided for the integration of CNDP members into Congolese institutions, but its implementation remained contested. In 2012, former CNDP fighters rebelled against the Congolese government, alleging that elements of the agreement had not been honored.

Renewed fighting involving M23 has displaced large numbers of people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the Mixed Migration Centre, more than 1.1 million Congolese are spread across Africa. Additionally, according to UNHCR’s Burundi situation page, as of Aug. 31, 153,560 Burundian refugees are spread across other parts of Africa, like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. As Congolese refugees struggle to return home alongside Burundi returnees, UNHCR supports this reintegration process.

What is UNHCR?

UNHCR, a U.N. organization, was established in 1950 in the aftermath of the Second World War. It dedicates itself to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees. In September 2026, UNHCR published an operational update on assistance to Congolese refugees in Burundi and voluntary returns to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have been aiding displaced Burundians returning home since 2008, with a recent funding request as of December 2025 of $47.2 million.

According to their Burundi page, more than 100,000 people are displaced, including about 91,000 refugees and the rest being asylum-seekers. Most of these displaced people come from the DRC, with the influx increasing rapidly due to rising tensions between the M23 and the Congolese military. Since 2017, more than 185,000 Burundians have returned home mainly from Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and the DRC.

Aid to Congolese Refugees and Burundian Returnees

UNHCR and its partners assist Congolese refugees living in Burundi and facilitate voluntary return for people going back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while also supporting Burundians returning to their own country. Here is how UNHCR is offering aid to Congolese refugees and Burundian returnees.

In an operational update, UNHCR highlights a handful of basic needs delivered to Burundi: education, protection, medical treatment and nutrition, food security, shelter, infrastructure, energy, water, sanitation and hygiene. UNHCR and its partners provide protection services, including legal assistance, efforts to address gender-based violence, and support for access to education. In Busuma alone, 890 people participated in awareness activities.

UNHCR protects physical health and well-being. For example, 7,690 medical consultations were completed for 6,312 refugees and 1,378 residents. In Musenyi, 1,572 refugees received medical consultations and 755 locals. UNHCR’s update also describes the provision of water and other essential services. In Busuma, 30,000 Burundian Francs ($10 USD) were distributed to each individual along with cereal, oil and salt.

Safe access to hygiene was provided as well, with 722 latrines in Musasa cleaned by UNHCR representatives and more latrines approved for construction in Musenyi. As the number of Congolese refugees and Burundian returnees rises, there is less access to shelter. To combat this, UNHCR distributed 325 to 299 families, housing 1,290 people. As the organization continues voluntary returns to the DRC, houses are being vacated, allowing UNHCR to reallocate these households. In total, 677 people representing 162 households were reallocated.

UNHCR approved future housing in Mibakwe and Kiranira for returnees, allowing them to thrive and better reintegrate themselves back home. This also includes 58 shelters in Rumadari, Gasenyi, and Rugadari, and 50 shelters in the Busoni commune. This is in accordance with efforts to reintegrate Burundians back home. While there is much more aid being distributed, one highlight of UNHCR’s work is the voluntary returns of Congolese refugees and reintegrating Burundians at home. As of Sept. 11, 2,084 Congolese refugees voluntarily returned home, bringing the total to 18,232 people.

UNHCR has outlined a plan in efforts to aid Congolese refugees and Burundian returnees.

Looking Ahead

UNHCR is taking sufficient steps toward providing aid to the voluntary return of Congolese people and Burundian returnees, but there are still more needs that need to be met, essentials such as food, water, shelter, access to health care, protection, hygiene and infrastructure. UNHCR has appealed for additional financial support as needs for protection, shelter, health care and livelihoods continue to exceed available resources.

– Olive Nelson

Olive is based in San Luis Obispo, CA, United States and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How UNHCR Provides Protection For Displaced People in DRC

Protection For Displaced People in DRC
The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of many ongoing emergencies around the world. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the country has faced political conflict, hunger, violence and poverty since gaining independence in 1960. Nearly 60 million people in the DRC were living in extreme poverty in 2022, according to the World Bank, while conflict continues to disrupt agriculture, markets and trade.

How Protection Works

To help alleviate the crisis, the U.N. Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, provides protection and assistance to people displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This includes internally displaced people, refugees and Congolese returnees. As of September 2025, 8.2 million people were displaced in connection with the DRC crisis, according to UNHCR. The number could reach 9 million by the end of 2026, including an estimated 5.8 million internally displaced people. More than 1.2 million Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers are also being hosted in neighboring countries.

According to UNHCR’s 2026 DRC emergency overview, the agency focuses on strengthening legal frameworks and asylum systems while promoting the inclusion of displaced people in national systems. UNHCR also maintains emergency response capacity and works to advance durable solutions, self-reliance and resilience among displaced and host communities.

Regionally, UNHCR leads a refugee response plan with partners in seven neighboring countries — Angola, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia — to provide protection, assistance and support for long-term solutions for Congolese refugees and host communities.

Assistance For Democratic Republic of the Congo Refugees

UNHCR projects 5.8 million internally displaced people in the DRC by the end of 2026, with displacement heavily concentrated in the eastern provinces. More than 1.2 million Congolese refugees have fled to neighboring countries, primarily Uganda and Burundi, as well as Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and other countries. UNHCR and its partners provide protection and assistance to displaced people both inside and outside the DRC.

UNHCR’s protection for displaced people efforts include supporting safe and voluntary returns, relocation and local integration. The agency also works to ensure displaced people have access to basic services, including environmentally friendly and affordable shelter. Its efforts also focus on strengthening access to land, livelihoods and other measures that promote self-reliance.

In 2025, UNHCR planned protection and assistance programs for millions of displaced people across the DRC and neighboring countries, including more than 273,000 children and caregivers targeted for child protection services.

Assistance From Neighboring Countries

Through its operations in Angola, the U.N. Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, supports refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of April 2026, Angola hosted 55,628 people of concern to UNHCR, including 22,786 from the DRC, according to UNHCR. The agency works with the Angolan government to provide access to territory and asylum, registration, documentation and refugee status determination for people seeking international protection.

UNHCR also provides humanitarian assistance to displaced populations and host communities, helping meet basic needs and improve access to essential services and livelihood opportunities. The agency advocates for the inclusion of refugees in national development plans and other government programs.

UNHCR has maintained a presence in Angola for more than 40 years, with a field office in Dundo since 2017. The Mozambique multi-country office coordinates its operations in Angola.

Burundi hosts more than 100,000 forcibly displaced people, including about 91,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to UNHCR. About 63% of Burundi’s population lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2024, according to the World Bank. As part of its response to the DRC emergency, Burundi maintained an open-door policy in 2024 and welcomed nearly 4,000 new asylum-seekers.

In addition to refugees, Burundi hosts returnees who face significant economic challenges. UNHCR works with the World Bank and other development partners to support the inclusion and reintegration of returnees and refugees. The World Bank’s Merankabandi national social protection program has reached more than 1.5 million people with cash transfers, startup capital and other support aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. The program also helps communities respond to food insecurity and climate-related shocks.

Strategy Outcomes and Impacts

According to UNHCR’s 2026 planning documents, the agency is working to strengthen protection for displaced people who experienced the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its efforts include improving access to essential services, strengthening national and community systems, and supporting the inclusion of refugees, internally displaced people and returnees in local and national programs. UNHCR also aims to improve living conditions for vulnerable people through shelter assistance and other essential relief items.

These efforts are part of UNHCR’s broader goal of helping displaced people meet their basic needs while building resilience, self-reliance and stronger connections with host communities. The agency’s 2022-2026 strategy also calls for greater social cohesion between displaced and host communities and improved access to durable solutions, including safe and sustainable returns and stronger land and tenure rights for internally displaced people and returnees.

The Future Of UNHCR’s Protection

According to UNHCR’s 2022-2026 strategy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the agency aims to expand opportunities for refugees in need of resettlement by 2026. The strategy also seeks to strengthen tenure and land rights for internally displaced people and returnees, helping them access secure housing and land as they rebuild their lives.

For refugees and internally displaced people, UNHCR aims to provide information and support for safe, dignified and sustainable returns. These efforts are part of the agency’s broader goal of advancing durable solutions for refugees, internally displaced people and returnees affected by the DRC crisis.

– Casey Chan-Smutko

Casey is based in Natick, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Plight of Western Sahara and the Sahrawi People 

The Sahrawi People For the last 40 years, a conflict has simmered over the resource-rich lands of the Western Sahara. Since Morocco invaded in 1975, an estimated 165,000 Sahrawi people have been displaced, most living in Algeria.

Where Is Western Sahara?

Western Sahara is a region sitting on the Atlantic coast, just south of Morocco and north of Mauritania. It’s a region slightly larger than the U.K., but has only a population of around half a million. Before Morocco annexed the territory, Spain governed it as a colony. Under Spanish rule, the Sahrawi people lived a sedentary life by force, abandoning their nomadic lifestyle. The West ignored this until the UN began demanding the decolonization of Western Sahara in 1965.

In 1960, the UN passed resolution 1514, which recognized that the peoples of the world have an ardent desire to end colonialism in all forms. The UN classified Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, meaning that decolonization must happen. However, in 1975, King Hassam defied the resolution and ordered the “Green March,” a demonstration where 350,000 Moroccan civilians marched into Western Sahara. This sent the message that Morocco should have determination over the Western Saharan territory.

How Did Western Sahara Respond?

The Moroccan military forces and the Polisario Front began combat over Western Sahara. The Polisario Front is a collection of resistance fighters, aiming to liberate Western Sahara as an independent nation. In 1973, a group of students established the Polisario Front in Algeria, aiming to ensure that the Spanish Sahara would become an autonomous country, unburdened by colonialism. The UN brokered a ceasefire after 16 years of fighting. This left approximately 20% of the country under Polisario control. The other 80% belongs to Morocco, defended by the “Berm” wall, manned by 150,000 soldiers.

The Sahrawi Who Stayed

Those who remain in their homeland continue to face pressure from the Moroccan government. The Moroccan authorities have arrested journalists and human rights activists, some being imprisoned for only trying to enter the Western Sahara region. Recently, the Moroccan parliament adopted Draft Law 97-15, the draft law includes a passage outlawing strike action for political purposes. This restriction on freedom of speech would prevent the Sahrawi people striking to demonstrate their desire for autonomy. On the other hand, youth protests calling for better health care and job opportunities in rural Morocco, have seen success. Western Sahara could benefit from these protests, giving the Sahrawi people some long awaited improvement.

Morocco has significantly reduced poverty in recent years, including across the territories of Western Sahara. Between 2001 and 2007, the region formerly known as Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, which covers the northern half of Western Sahara, reduced its poverty rate by 66%. The study also shows that Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira, which covers much of the southern part of Western Sahara, has one of the lowest poverty rates in Morocco. These reductions have significantly improved the quality of life for Sahrawis who remain in the territory. However, poverty still affects rural communities in Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, with around 8% of the rural population living below the poverty line.

The Sahrawi Who Fled

Those who fled the conflict have dispersed across the world, with many fleeing to Algeria. Some refugees have lived in refugee camps based in the Algerian Sahara for over 45 years. In the camps the Sahrawi combat 50 degree centigrade summers, sub-zero temperatures in the winter, and total reliance on humanitarian aid in order to survive. Despite the challenges, they still think of a future for their children, believing that in the future they will be able to return to their home country.

Sahrawi refugees in Algeria live across five different camps and face food insecurity and limited employment opportunities. WFP reports that 78% of Sahrawi refugees experience food insecurity, which contributes to other health problems. For example, 53.5% of Sahrawi refugee women aged 15–49 suffer from anemia, as do more than half of children aged six months to five years. In response to these challenges, the Algerian government developed the Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan (SRRP), which aims to address the refugees’ most pressing needs. The plan estimates a funding requirement of approximately $200 million and focuses on three main objectives: protection, food security and employment opportunities. The plan also extends beyond these priorities by outlining development initiatives in areas such as education, sport and logistics.

The International Response

The Sahrawi people have seen mixed results with the international community. After Western Sahara was recognized by the UN in 1965, very little has been done to help the Sahrawi people, by the West. The UN brokered a peace deal between Morocco and the Polisario Front, in 1991, creating a task force named MINURSO to help establish a referendum on independence.

Looking Ahead

While there is peace in West Sahara now, the Sahrawi people remain displaced across North Africa. Various legislative resolutions concerning their independence have challenged the idea of an autonomous Western Sahara. However, Algerian aid to Sahrawi refugees is opening the door to a better life. These people still have hope that their children will one day be able to return to their homeland, clinging to that dream for 45 years and counting.

– Eoin Baxter Mackay

Eoin is based in Prestwick, Scotland and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Exploitation of Agricoltural Refugee Labor in Italy

Man in hoodie carrying a cardboard box outdoors, representing refugee labour in Italy.The death of four migrant farmworkers in Amendolara, Calabria, on June 1, 2026, shocked Italy. It renewed attention on one of the country’s most persistent human rights issues: the exploitation of refugee labor in Italy. According to reports, the caporali (illegal labor recruiters) killed the workers after they refused to continue working without pay. The tragedy sparked renewed calls from NGOs and institutions for stronger protections for migrant workers and stricter enforcement against labor exploitation.

Thousands of refugees arrive in Italy every year, hoping for safety and economic stability, only to struggle against poverty, insecure employment, and exploitation. Many flee conflict, persecution, or extreme poverty in their countries, only to find themselves trapped in another cycle of deprivation in Europe. Without legal documents, stable housing, and access to regular employment, refugees are particularly vulnerable to abuse in sectors such as agriculture.

How Poverty Fuels Refugee Labor Exploitation

Agriculture is one of the sectors where the exploitation of refugee labor in Italy is most widespread due to the phenomenon known as Caporalato. This illegal system relies on intermediaries, known as caporali, who recruit vulnerable workers for farms while charging illegal fees, withholding wages, threatening workers, or exposing them to unsafe conditions.

Refugees and undocumented migrants often accept these conditions because they have few alternatives. Without residence permits or formal employment contracts, they are excluded from labor protections, health care, and social security. Fear of deportation or losing future opportunities to regularize their status discourages many workers from reporting abuse.

This exploitation reinforces global poverty rather than reducing it. Refugees seeking better economic opportunities often remain trapped in low-paid informal work, making it difficult to escape poverty, support their families, or build long-term stability. The result is a cycle in which vulnerability continues across borders.

Organizations Mobilizing for Migrants’ Rights

The situation of refugees is challenging, but some organizations work to improve their conditions and offer solutions to break the poverty cycle.

SIPLA (Integrated Protection System for Agricultural Workers) focuses on protecting migrants from Caporalato in Italy. It is divided into SIPLA North and SIPLA South to address slightly different needs. SIPLA operates locally, creating projects for assistance and training on workers’ rights, and nationally by promoting agreements with companies and large-scale distribution.

By the end of 2022, the Sipla North project reached 1,829 agricultural workers, opened 45 new help desks to assist migrants, and employed over 100 workers to assist exploited refugees. The project fostered collaboration between organizations with the same objective of ensuring respect for agricultural workers.

MILMAT, co-founded by the European Union, promotes labor and social integration on farms and ensures workers’ rights. The project fosters knowledge of rights and promotes the recruitment and respect of migrants. It also creates channels of communication between employers and workers to control discrimination and ensure commitment to work.

Government Action Against Exploitation

Italy has promoted the Decree Primo Maggio to address labor exploitation. Recent government initiatives include regulations aimed at combating digital forms of Caporalato, increasing transparency in recruitment processes, and simplifying access to legal work permits through digital platforms.

Although these reforms alone cannot eliminate exploitation, they represent important steps toward improving oversight and making legal employment more accessible for migrant workers.

– Ilaria Alberti

Ilaria is based in Dublin, Ireland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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The Displacement Crisis in Somalia

displacement crisis in somaliaSomalia, a nation in eastern Africa, faces one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. Somalia is in the throes of a devastating civil war, and the crisis is further exacerbated by disease outbreaks, severe droughts, and food shortages. Due to this immense pressure on social and health infrastructure, poverty and the displacement crisis in Somalia are critical humanitarian issues.

Background on Poverty in Somalia

To achieve a more holistic understanding of these issues and how to alleviate them, the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics and Somalia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs partnered to launch a new Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in 2022.

Multidimensional poverty considers the challenges faced by people experiencing financial poverty as well as those who lack access to adequate educational opportunities, sanitation, electricity or clean drinking water. Under this more holistic approach to poverty, far greater numbers of people living in areas lacking basic infrastructure qualify as impoverished. Overall, approximately two-thirds of Somali citizens face multidimensional poverty.

The Internal Displacement Crisis

Internal displacement is another critical dimension of the crisis in Somalia. The number of internally displaced people has tripled in the last decade due to ongoing armed conflicts and droughts.

There are currently an estimated 3.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Somalia, amounting to roughly 20% of the total population. Further, more than 80% of the IDPs in Somalia are women and children. This striking gender and age-based disparity shows the importance of aid specifically geared toward the most heavily impacted demographics of women and children.

Ongoing Efforts to Alleviate Displacement in Somalia

Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) is a Mogadishu-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) that provides shelter to displaced women and children. The organization pursues this goal by constructing and managing temporary shelters for IDPs and providing non-food item (NFI) kits with a blanket, mosquito net, sleeping mat and other essential items to displaced people.

Further, the United Nations is engaged in active efforts to combat the marginalization of women, children and other minority groups in Somalia. Its action plans aim to alleviate the displacement crisis by working with the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to support displaced populations.

Specifically, these partnered organizations will conduct research to generate accurate gender-relevant data to adequately inform their humanitarian responses and gender-responsive legislation. They also plan to incorporate more representatives of minority groups, including women and youth, to participate in humanitarian and public affairs, largely by supporting and partnering with women-led civil society organizations, NGOs and networks.

Additionally, Somalia’s federal government established the Durable Solutions Unit (DSU) at the Ministry of Planning, Investments and Economic Development. Some central aims of this unit include promoting government leadership in ameliorating the displacement crisis, coordinating across sectors to implement durable and efficient solutions, prioritizing interventions in governmental policy, and raising awareness and funds for lasting solutions. The unit recognizes that Somalia’s displacement interventions must be gender and age sensitive, giving special attention and support to the women and youth who make up the bulk of the displaced population.

The DSU created the Somalia Durable Solutions Progress Survey, which enables the local and federal government to identify and provide aid to more than two-thirds of Somalia’s IDPs. This survey gives the government a more comprehensive understanding of the displacement problem, helping inform how to effectively alleviate it.

Somalia has used the new information gathered from this survey to inform its National Solutions Pathways Action Plan for 2024-2029. Under this action plan, $288,055,732 is allocated to improving employment and livelihood opportunities. A key component of this goal is to promote business development for women, youth and disadvantaged communities, including targeted financial support for startups, finance programs for women’s groups and expanded employment opportunities.

Looking Ahead

Despite the severity of the ongoing displacement crisis in Somalia and its particularly profound impact on women and children, many groups are taking complementary approaches to alleviate it. NGOs such as SSWC provide immediate aid in the form of temporary shelter and emergency kits, while the United Nations and Somalia’s federal government continue working to alleviate the crisis both by providing direct aid to IDPs and by addressing the larger structural issues underlying the crisis.

– Melody Hubbard

Melody is based in Knoxville, TN, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How DREAMS for Refugees Provides Long-term Solutions

A diverse group inside a large tent, symbolizing DREAMS for refugees' community focus.In the past couple of years, the global refugee crisis has steadily grown. Currently, more than 43 million refugees depend on humanitarian aid, and as wealthy countries such as the United States withdraw their aid, the crisis worsens. While many refugee camps provide immediate aid such as food, water, shelter and medical care, they are not intended to be a long-term solution.

Immediate versus Long-Term Aid

While refugee camps are excellent for providing immediate assistance for refugees suffering from extreme poverty, they do not provide lasting support. People rely on the camps for support and lack the ability to permanently lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Refugee camps were designed to be temporary shelters, but the people who reside in them require something permanent.

The Solution

In their joint project entitled “DREAMS for Refugees,” DREAMS for Refugees Uganda offers sustainable solutions, empowering communities through innovative programs and reducing dependency on aid. are working to install permanent solutions in refugee communities. Beginning in the Ugandan Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, they are combining two well-researched tactics.

Village Enterprise employs a poverty graduation program. This approach uses provision, coaching and structural changes to benefit poor communities. Assets are provided, and teaching allows people to use those assets in productive ways.

This program is combined with Mercy Corps’ market system development program, which allows the refugee community to thrive financially. Together, these two strategies have the potential to create thriving communities.

Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement and Beyond

The Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement was created in Uganda in 2016. After the implementation of DREAMS, the first businesses opened in the fall of 2022.

In 2023, DREAMS for Refugees expanded to Ethiopia. It is estimated that it will reach 200,000 refugees.

The project received Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Award and was the 2021 winner of the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award for Refugees.

Village Enterprise and Mercy Corps intended DREAMS to be an evidence-led approach to fighting poverty. To determine the effectiveness of the program, IDinsight is conducting a trial to assess its results.

Why the DREAMS Model Matters

The DREAMS program represents the shift from offering basic necessities to refugees to improving lives and setting people up for success. Not only does this program help the individual, but the evolution of small businesses will strengthen the economies of these settlements as a whole.

This long-term approach is especially helpful in a period of reduced foreign aid by wealthy countries, as it repurposes money to create lasting success as opposed to short-term survival.

Looking Ahead

As the number of refugees living in extreme poverty increases and the amount of foreign aid dwindles, investing in long-term solutions becomes more important than ever. The future of foreign aid is uncertain, so actions to change it must be taken now. Assisting with establishing independence rather than creating dependency on consistent aid is not only more financially viable, but it protects the dignity of refugees. If DREAMS continues to be successful, it could serve as a model for communities experiencing extreme poverty around the world.

– Julia Cholerton

Julia is based in Gig Harbor, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Housing Programs in Serbia: A Step Towards Social Inclusion

Housing Programs in SerbiaSerbia’s recent headlines have reflected deep political and social tensions. Since the deadly railway station collapse in Novi Sad on Nov. 1, 2024, which killed 16 people, mass protests have spread across the country. Demonstrators have accused President Aleksandar Vučić’s government of entrenched corruption and authoritarianism while demanding greater transparency and democratic reform.

At the same time, Serbia continues negotiations with the European Union (EU) and benefits from major EU-funded development programs targeting poverty reduction, infrastructure and social cohesion.

This political context places Serbia at an important turning point: while public distrust toward institutions grows, EU-backed social programs continue to reshape living conditions for some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Poverty and Ethnic Discrimination in Serbia

Serbia remains the largest economy and the most populous state in the Western Balkans, with approximately 6.6 million inhabitants in 2026. Over the past decade, Serbia has experienced notable economic growth and increasing foreign investment. However, this growth has not benefited all parts of society equally.

Around 20% of the Serbian population remains at risk of poverty, particularly in the southern and western regions of the country. Economic inequality, unemployment, weak infrastructure and limited access to public services continue to affect vulnerable populations disproportionately.

Among the communities facing the greatest structural discrimination are the Roma people. Roma communities in Serbia frequently encounter barriers in employment, education, health care and housing. Many Roma families continue to live in informal settlements with poor infrastructure, limited sanitation and insecure housing conditions, which further reinforces cycles of poverty and exclusion.

The EU SHAI Program: Housing as Social Inclusion

In response to these challenges, the EU launched the Social Housing and Active Inclusion Program (EU SHAI), one of Serbia’s largest social inclusion initiatives. Between 2019 and 2025, the EU invested €27 million into the program, while the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) implemented it alongside Serbian national and local authorities.

Rather than focusing solely on housing construction, EU SHAI combined accommodation with employment support, education, health care access and social services.

The program targeted Roma communities, women escaping domestic violence, people with disabilities, young people leaving state care systems and families living in extreme poverty. It adapted its approach to local needs by constructing new apartments, purchasing rural homes, renovating existing properties and upgrading infrastructure in informal settlements. Projects took place across 19 Serbian municipalities, including Čačak, Loznica, Šabac, Raška and Svilajnac.

The program produced measurable results:

  • 127 families moved into newly built housing units
  • 14 new family homes were constructed
  • 56 village houses were purchased
  • 92 homes were renovated
  • More than 350 vulnerable families received permanent housing support

Overall, the program supported more than 1,200 people.

Some municipalities achieved especially visible results. Svilajnac and Raška emerged as examples of how long-term coordination between local governments, international organizations and social services can create sustainable improvements for vulnerable communities. In this sense, EU SHAI functioned not only as a humanitarian program but also as a governance and development initiative.

Housing Programs in Serbia for Roma Communities

Serbia has also developed targeted housing initiatives specifically for Roma communities. Through the Let’s Build a Home Together project, the Serbian government, with EU financial support, has provided housing solutions for up to 170 Roma families previously living in unsafe, informal settlements.

Families can choose between apartments, village houses or the reconstruction of existing homes. Authorities designed the program with direct participation from Roma beneficiaries in order to protect housing rights and adapt solutions to each family’s needs. The initiative also places strong emphasis on women’s equal housing rights and property security.

Social Housing for Refugees and Displaced People

Following the conflicts that accompanied the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Serbia participated in the Regional Housing Program (RHP), a joint initiative involving Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The program aimed to support refugees and internally displaced persons affected by the Yugoslav wars.

Alongside the RHP, Serbia developed the Social Housing in Supportive Environment (SHSE) program, which has operated since 2002 with support from international donors, the Serbian government, the EU and organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The SHSE program provides long-term housing and social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons. Since 2002, the program has built 430 apartments across 22 Serbian municipalities, housing approximately 1,100 vulnerable residents. Unlike traditional institutional shelters, SHSE promotes decentralized and community-based housing solutions that integrate beneficiaries into local communities while supporting their access to health care, employment and social services.

Programs Fostering Active Inclusion

What distinguishes the housing programs in Serbia from traditional housing policies is their emphasis on active inclusion. Programs such as EU SHAI recognize that stable housing alone cannot sustainably reduce poverty if families remain excluded from employment, education and health care systems. As a result, these programs combine housing assistance with social and economic support measures tailored to the specific needs of each family.

The initiatives also actively involve the communities they support in the decision-making process, allowing beneficiaries to participate in shaping their own housing solutions and future living conditions rather than remaining passive recipients of aid.

This integrated approach proved especially important for Roma communities, who often face overlapping forms of exclusion. By combining stable housing with education and employment opportunities, these programs aim to break intergenerational cycles of poverty rather than simply manage their consequences.

Serbia, the EU and the Politics of Social Development

The housing programs in Serbia highlight the complex relationship between Serbia and the European Union. While political tensions surrounding democracy, corruption and media freedom continue to complicate Serbia’s accession process, EU-funded social programs remain deeply embedded in the country’s development strategy.

For many vulnerable families, these projects produce tangible improvements in everyday life regardless of broader geopolitical debates. They provide stable housing, access to employment, educational opportunities and greater social protection in communities that have often remained excluded for decades.

Looking Ahead

At a time when poverty, displacement and housing insecurity continue to affect millions across Europe, Serbia’s social housing programs demonstrate how targeted international cooperation can generate measurable social impact even amid ongoing political tensions. By combining housing with active inclusion policies, the housing programs in Serbia offer a model for poverty reduction that focuses not only on shelter but also on long-term social integration.

– Inès Maudire

Inès Maudire is based in Paris, France and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Sudanese Refugees and UNHCR’s 2026 Regional Response Plan

UNHCR’s 2026 Regional ResponseIn April 2023, war broke out between Sudan’s national army and a powerful paramilitary force known as the Rapid Support Forces. Within months, it had become the largest displacement crisis on earth. Now in its fourth year, the conflict has driven more than 4.4 million Sudanese across international borders, with millions more displaced within the country itself. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has published its 2026 Regional Response Plan, a $1.6 billion appeal covering seven countries and 123 partner organizations.

UNHCR’s 2026 Regional Response Plan

The plan sets out how humanitarian organizations intend to support refugees and the communities hosting them across the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda throughout 2026. It targets approximately 5.9 million people in total. This figure includes both refugees and 1.8 million host community members whose own resources and public services are under mounting strain.

The money requested breaks down across 10 sectors. Food security takes the largest share at around $407 million, a sum that reflects the scale of the immediate threat: one in 10 newly arrived Sudanese refugee children in Chad is malnourished on arrival. Protection, covering everything from legal documentation and asylum access to gender-based violence response and child protection, accounts for $286 million. Health care and nutrition take $238 million, shelter $100 million, water and sanitation $139 million and education $102 million. A further $132 million is allocated to livelihoods and economic inclusion, funding that reflects the plan’s broader ambition to move beyond emergency aid toward genuine self-sufficiency.

Rather than distributing food parcels and goods, the UNHCR’s 2026 Regional Response plan prioritizes giving refugees direct cash transfers wherever possible. Cash gives people dignity and choice, stimulates local economies and costs less to deliver than in-kind aid.

Transitioning Past Emergency Response

What began as an emergency response is being forced, by necessity, to evolve. The plan is explicit that the response must now bridge immediate humanitarian needs with what it calls “solutions from the start.” In this way, decisions regarding both short and long-term intervention are made with integration in mind. This means connecting refugees to national health, education and social protection systems rather than building parallel humanitarian structures that only deepen aid dependency. It means supporting host governments to let refugees work, move freely and access services. It also means engaging development banks, private sector actors and bilateral donors alongside traditional humanitarian funders.

The conflict driving all of this shows no signs of ending. Sudan was ranked the deadliest conflict in Africa in 2025, with more than 17,000 civilian deaths recorded between January and November alone. Sexual violence has been widespread. The Rapid Support Forces captured El Fasher, the last majority city in Darfur not under their control, in October 2025, triggering a fresh surge of displacement. By December, fighting had spread to Kordofan. For the millions who have already fled, return remains a distant prospect and the current picture varies considerably depending on where they are located.

Chad and Egypt

Chad carries the heaviest burden of any country for those who fled after the 2023 outbreak of fighting, hosting more than 1.3 million Sudanese refugees by the end of 2025, projected to reach 1.48 million through 2026. Most crossed from the Darfur region into Chad’s already impoverished eastern provinces. The response plan here, with the largest single-country allocation at $568 million, is tied to a government strategy that aims to turn the influx into a driver of long-term development for the region.

Egypt hosts the largest overall number of Sudanese refugees, around 1.5 million, who live in urban areas alongside Egyptian communities rather than in camps. A significant legal development came in December 2024 when Egypt passed a new asylum law, for the first time establishing a framework for a state-led national asylum system. Partners will spend 2026 supporting its implementation. Refugees currently face serious daily challenges: rising costs of living, administrative barriers and very limited access to formal employment.

Libya and South Sudan

Libya presents some of the more acute dangers. More than 538,000 Sudanese have arrived since 2023, more than 80% of them women and children, most entering through the remote desert crossing at Alkufra. Only around 70,000 have been formally registered. Without documentation, refugees cannot access services and risk arrest and deportation — more than 3,700 were deported in 2025 alone. For many, the calculation becomes whether to risk the Mediterranean. In 2025, Sudanese nationals were among the top nationalities intercepted at sea and among those arriving in Italy and Greece. The $116 million Libya allocation is, in significant part, an investment in preventing those journeys from becoming the only option.

South Sudan has perhaps the most complex humanitarian landscape of any host country. It is simultaneously managing more than 700,000 Sudanese refugees, two million of its own internally displaced people and more than 880,000 South Sudanese who were themselves refugees in Sudan and have since returned home. Climate shocks, cholera outbreaks, food insecurity and ongoing conflict compound everything. The $362 million allocation is the second largest in the plan.

Ethiopia, Uganda and the CAR

Ethiopia has maintained an open-door asylum policy throughout, receiving more than 77,000 Sudanese since 2023. It is also receiving more than 21,000 Ethiopians returning from Sudan. A recent Right to Work Directive offers refugees legal access to the labor market, a meaningful policy advance in a region where most refugees are barred from formal employment.

Uganda, despite not sharing a border with Sudan, hosts around 91,000 Sudanese as part of a total refugee population of nearly two million. Its legal framework, giving refugees the right to work, move freely and use national services, is held up internationally as a model. However, severe underfunding in 2025 forced cuts to food, health and protection programs. The 2026 plan works through a triage system: lifesaving needs first, then essential services, then longer-term resilience.

The Central African Republic (CAR) hosts around 40,000 Sudanese in remote border regions with almost no infrastructure and very limited partner presence. Armed actors crossing from Sudan, the reduced capacity of the U.N. peacekeeping mission and seasonal rains that cut off roads for months at a time make this one of the most difficult operational environments in the entire response.

The Funding Problem

Running through the entire plan raises significant concerns about money. The 2025 response was severely underfunded, and the plan does not expect 2026 to be easier. Without sustained financial support, hard-won gains will be reversed, more refugees will attempt onward movement through dangerous routes and regional instability will grow. The appeal is not only for emergency donations but for predictable, multi-year commitments — the kind that allow organizations to build systems rather than simply respond to the latest crisis.

UNHCR’s 2026 Regional Response Plan describes a humanitarian operation of enormous scale, under enormous strain, attempting something genuinely difficult: keeping millions of people alive while simultaneously trying to build the conditions in which they might one day need less help.

– Andrew Geddes

Andrew is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Global Link Teaching Refugees

Global LinkWhen a refugee arrives in the U.K., the first barrier is not just language. It is isolation. Since 1993, Lancashire-based NGO Global Link has built a bridge across that gap, evolving from a local development center into a national resettlement force.

Global Link operates on a simple belief: an inclusive Britain requires more than teaching refugees English. It requires social justice and conflict resolution, not just within refugee communities but across the U.K. as a whole.

Mission and Challenges

Global Link’s mission rests on three core strands: educating the general public on refugee matters, building cohesion between resettled and local populations in Lancashire and providing financial and advisory support to asylum seekers. Doing all of this comes with challenges. Asylum seekers may arrive from traumatic backgrounds or with no formal education, all while facing the constant threat of citizenship denial. Global Link then has roughly six months to begin teaching refugees English as a second language (ESL) before funded college classes become available.

Bridging the Language Gap

For newly arrived asylum seekers in Lancaster, access to English lessons is limited. Colleges often provide English classes through government-funded ESOL programs. However, many require asylum seekers to have lived in the U.K. for at least six months before becoming eligible. As a result, newly arrived asylum seekers frequently rely on charities and informal classes to learn English during that period.

Ryan Cove, a volunteer ESL teacher at Global Link, stated: “Global Link is one of the only places to offer ESL lessons to asylum seekers who have newly arrived.” With U.K. asylum policies becoming harsher and the required English level rising from B1 to B2, learning English quickly is more important than ever.

The curriculum prioritizes survival. Teachers run lessons on filling in asylum claims, registering with a GP, booking appointments by phone and reading prescription labels. The system aims to cover as many topics as possible and tailor them to specific needs; for instance, the process of getting medication from a pharmacy is broken down step by step.

For filling out asylum claims, Global Link works alongside another Lancaster charity, Refugee Advocacy, Information and Support (RAIS), which provides translation and advice. For more advanced students, lessons move on to job applications and business conversation skills. Cultural references create another layer of difficulty. Idioms, jokes and sayings can be difficult even for advanced ESL students. 

Learning Methods

While some refugees pick up English quickly through social media, others need graded language and visual support. Successful lessons are not always planned. As Cove noted about his students, Ukrainian refugees—mostly older women and mothers—responded best to cooking videos and discussions of travel. At the same time, local classes attended mainly by men from a range of nationalities engaged more with sport and food, allowing students to discuss their own cultures alongside their experiences in the U.K. Games also help.

There is no final exam for asylum seekers. When people arrive, their English levels vary widely depending on their home country and previous education. After six months, those with sufficient English proficiency become eligible for college classes. But success is measured individually: can the person use English in daily life? Can they see a doctor or get a job? 

This is why Global Link is such a valuable NGO: it does not judge success by a single exam but by meaningful progress that helps refugees move beyond mere survival.

National Integration Effort and Impact

Across the U.K., Global Link works to educate the wider public. These efforts take multiple forms, such as visits to institutions and open forums for refugee and local discussion. They also include simulations designed to give people in the U.K. a real understanding of the experiences of asylum seekers, such as Global Link’s “Escape to Safety” (E2S) exhibition.

This project is a tight labyrinth of rooms representing the difficulties and challenges that Iranian, Eritrean and Sudanese refugees—among others—face during the asylum-seeking process. Through its broad outreach, Global Link reached 64,000 people in 2025. Participants emerge from the labyrinth with a visceral understanding of what it means to flee home, wait months for decisions and navigate an unfamiliar system alone.

Nationally, the NGO offers a wide range of activities to bring communities together. These include sports tournaments, cooking classes where refugees and locals share family recipes, community agriculture projects and art workshops. Beyond this, it also offers workshops on critical skills such as driving and job-seeking. 

In 2025 alone, Global Link supported 410 refugees in their integration. In doing so, it creates more than just a development center; it creates a second home for refugees who would otherwise enter the U.K. completely isolated.

Conclusion

Global Link occupies a unique place in the U.K. that goes far beyond teaching refugees. It provides advanced, multi-layered ESL that addresses the challenges refugees face, supported by ongoing community-building for both locals and newcomers. As Cove puts it when describing why he decided to join Global Link, the work “lets you understand what they are going through on a personal basis… building a strong bond with an often neglected area of the community.” 

– Eli Thomson

Eli is based in Preston, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Flickr

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Syrian Refugee Entrepreneurship in Turkey

Syrian Refugee Entrepreneurship in TurkeyTurkey hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with more than 3.2 million Syrians under temporary protection living across the country. While displacement is often portrayed as an economic burden, many Syrian refugees demonstrate resilience through entrepreneurship.

According to the World Bank, Syrian youth in Turkey increasingly start businesses as a pathway to economic empowerment, navigating formal and informal markets despite legal and financial constraints. These enterprises range from retail and services to manufacturing, creating jobs for both refugees and Turkish citizens. This growing business activity highlights how migrant entrepreneurship can contribute to a host country’s economy by generating income, expanding local markets and supporting poverty reduction. Syrian refugee entrepreneurship in Turkey shows how displaced communities can build economic opportunities despite challenging circumstances.

The Scale of Syrian Refugee Entrepreneurship in Turkey

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, many Syrians living in Turkey have moved beyond informal work and started their own businesses. Research from the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey indicates that more than 10,000 Syrian-owned companies have been officially registered across the country. These businesses operate in sectors such as retail, trade, manufacturing and food services, reflecting both market demand and the needs of local communities.

Syrian-owned businesses are especially concentrated in cities such as Istanbul, Gaziantep, Hatay and Mersin, where strong trade networks and geographic proximity to Syria support commercial activity. In industrial centers like Gaziantep, Syrian entrepreneurs also contribute to regional trade connections and export activity.

On average, Syrian-owned firms employ between five and nine workers, including both Syrian refugees and Turkish citizens. This level of activity shows that Syrian refugee entrepreneurship in Turkey has moved beyond subsistence strategies and now contributes to local labor markets and small business ecosystems.

Economic Contributions: Jobs and Market Expansion

Syrian refugee entrepreneurship in Turkey also plays a growing role in job creation and market expansion. Since the start of the Syrian conflict, thousands of Syrian-owned businesses have opened across the country, operating in sectors such as retail, manufacturing and food services. These enterprises generate employment opportunities for both refugees and Turkish citizens.

Studies show that Syrian small and medium-sized businesses employ around seven workers on average, strengthening local labor markets and supporting small business ecosystems. In addition to employment, Syrian entrepreneurs contribute to trade networks that connect Turkish markets with partners across the Middle East. Through investment, production and cross-border commerce, Syrian-owned businesses increasingly support economic activity in the regions where they operate.

Challenges and Barriers for Syrian Entrepreneurs

Despite the growth of Syrian-owned businesses, refugee entrepreneurs in Turkey still face several structural barriers. Access to finance remains one of the most significant challenges, as many refugees lack the credit history or collateral required by formal financial institutions. Language barriers and unfamiliar administrative procedures can also make business registration and regulatory compliance more difficult.

Limited access to professional networks and business support services may restrict opportunities for growth and market expansion. Although Turkey introduced work permit regulations for refugees under temporary protection in 2016, many entrepreneurs still face difficulties navigating the formal business environment. Addressing these barriers remains important to help refugee-led businesses reach their full economic potential and expand their contributions to local economies.

Programs Supporting Refugee Entrepreneurship

Several international organizations and local initiatives support refugee entrepreneurship in Turkey. Programs led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other partners focus on strengthening refugee-led businesses through training, mentorship and policy guidance. These initiatives promote entrepreneurship as a pathway to sustainable livelihoods while also encouraging economic cooperation between refugees and host communities.

Local initiatives such as the İMECE Project also support refugee entrepreneurs by providing training and networking opportunities. Supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Habitat Association, the program has trained more than 9,000 participants and helped develop new refugee-led businesses. These initiatives demonstrate how targeted support programs can help transform refugee entrepreneurship into long-term economic opportunities that benefit both refugees and local communities.

Looking Ahead

Syrian refugee entrepreneurship in Turkey illustrates how displaced communities can contribute to economic growth when given opportunities to participate in local markets. By creating businesses, generating employment and strengthening trade networks, Syrian entrepreneurs increasingly support economic activity in the regions where they live. Continued support through training programs, inclusive policies and business development initiatives can help expand these contributions and promote long-term economic resilience for both refugees and host communities.

– Elif Oktar

Elif is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr