Archive for category: Refugees

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Hope for Refugees in Iran

Refugees in IranSince early 2026, essential infrastructure in Iran has been disrupted, including health care systems, transportation networks and water services. These disruptions have made it increasingly difficult for humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable populations. Strained supply chains and limited access to basic provisions have further complicated the situation for uprooted communities.

The United Nations (U.N.) estimates suggest that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran since the beginning of 2026, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis.

As displacement increases, the need for emergency assistance continues to escalate. Forced from their residences, families must contend with shortages of food, shelter and clean water. Many face temporary camps or overcrowded living conditions where access to basic needs is limited. Iran already hosts millions of refugees, and the current unrest is further complicating the situation. Millions of displaced people rely on Iran’s resources.

Hope for Refugees in Iran

Despite these challenges, international organizations have mobilized life-saving support. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continues to support one of the largest refugee populations in the world. As of 2026, approximately 1.65 million forcibly displaced people reside in Iran, including about 770,000 registered refugees, the majority of whom live in urban areas.

For the past 40 years, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing food assistance to refugees in Iran. In addition to supporting refugees, WFP has the capacity to assist the government in crisis situations. In Iran, WFP supports more than 32,500 refugees through a combination of cash transfers, food distributions and school-based nutrition programs.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) continues to provide medical care, disaster relief and community-based support services in affected areas. The IFRC launched a CHF 40 million emergency appeal to support humanitarian operations, aiming to assist up to 5 million people across 30 provinces in Iran. Relief efforts include emergency medical services, shelter, water and sanitation support and mental health services delivered by thousands of staff and volunteers.

Additional Organizations Supporting Refugees in Iran

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provides legal assistance, shelter and education support to displaced populations. In Iran, NRC has supported more than 40,000 refugees and vulnerable host community members annually through education programs, legal aid and livelihood assistance.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) delivers health care and protection services in crisis-affected settings worldwide. Globally, the IRC reached more than 31.5 million people in 2023, including displaced and refugee populations in countries such as Iran through partner-supported programs.

Relief International works to expand access to education, health care and clean water for vulnerable communities. In Iran, the organization supports a population of nearly 3 million Afghan refugees, providing health care, education, vocational training and small business support. In 2023, its programs in Iran included supporting 18 schools, assisting more than 3,000 children with education and providing cash assistance to approximately 3,000 individuals.

Looking Ahead

As the situation continues to unfold in Iran, international awareness and sustained support will be essential. Humanitarian organizations working across the country continue to demonstrate that coordinated, targeted assistance can reach displaced populations even in complex and fast-moving crises.

– Erin Sian Mongillo

Erin is based in North Haven, CT, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Migration to Bangladesh – The Rohingya Crisis

Migration to BangladeshThe Rohingya remain one of the most displaced people in the world, with more than a million Rohingya currently living as refugees outside of Myanmar and more than 3 million internally displaced. Fearing persecution, many have sought refuge in neighboring countries, including in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp, in Bangladesh where they continue to face dire living conditions. Here is more information about the Rohingya and migration to Bangladesh.

Who Are the Rohingya?

The name Rohingya refers to an indigenous Muslim ethnic minority who were living in the Arakan Kingdom, which Burma, now known as Myanmar, invaded in 1784. 

Historically, Burma fell under the colonial occupation of the British during which time, the Rohingya people remained in Arakan and maintained their language and community while living alongside the Buddhist Rakhine, who resented their presence in the region. 

Disputes between the Muslim Rohingya and the Buddhist Rakhine intensified through the Japanese invasion during World War II and continued on after Myanmar gained its independence in 1948. From then on, the Myanmar government has continuously denied the Rohingya people their right to citizenship and launched systematic persecution against the Rohingya, which lasts to this day. 

The situation got drastically worse in 2017 and drove nearly half a million Rohingya out of their home country resulting in a large Rohingya migration to Bangladesh. The Rohingya people remain stateless to this day. 

Migration to Bangladesh

As of 2025, more than 1 million Rohingya refugees reside in the world’s largest refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar, in Bangladesh where living conditions are precarious. Aside from overcrowding, refugees currently face other humanitarian challenges such as:

  • Poor access to water and food 
  • Poor access to healthcare
  • Poor access to education
  • Malnutrition and spread of infections
  • Risk of exploitation and insecurity

UNICEF noted more than 235,000 refugee children between the ages of 5-17 have no access to schools, leaving them vulnerable to child trafficking and labor. Furthermore, Rohingya refugees do not have a legal right to leave the camp or to work on their own terms. On top of this, the Rohingya people are left to navigate their trauma on their own and many children are born in limbo. Currently, the Rohingya crisis is being addressed at the International Court of Justice.

Remaining Hopeful

As court proceedings unravel, many organizations continue to work on the ground to meet the needs of the Rohingya people in refugee camps. 

  • International Rescue Committee (IRC): The IRC is working to bring lifesaving aids to refugees in Cox’s Bazar, including a recently launched measles response to a major outbreak in April 2026, which includes vaccinations and other health services for 20,000 children aged 6 months to 5 years in Rohingya refugee camps. The IRC also provides child protection and education programs in the refugee camps, with more than 400 staff operating across 33 camps in Bangladesh.
  • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF is working to provide healthcare support on the ground, including mental health support and maternity care to refugees not only in Cox’s Bazar, but all around the world. With an increasing influx of refugees arriving to Cox’s Bazar, there are increased risks of infections, which MSF staffs are helping to alleviate. In 2025, MSF launched a “test and treat” campaign, which addresses the alarming rate of hepatitis C infections among the Rohingya refugees. Of 2,136 individuals who were positive for hepatitis C, MSF has already treated 2,102 individuals.
  • UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency: Migration to Bangladesh comes with various challenges, especially weather hazards. From May to October, Bangladesh faces the monsoon season, which comes with heavy rainfall and storms. This poses an immediate threat to refugees living tents not designed to withhold such extreme weather conditions. The UNHCR has a monsoon response where staffs provide practical assistance to families impacted by the monsoon. In anticipation for the monsoon season, the UNHCR staffs provide tie-down kits to as many as 40,000 households to help them upgrade their shelters.

Looking Ahead

With recent cuts in foreign aid in the U.S. and the U.K., humanitarian efforts supporting the Rohingya community proving more challenging, the work does not stop. However, with the help of individual donors around the world, aid workers are able to continue helping refugees. The good news is that the Rohingya people now have their voices being heard at the International Court of Justice, so the world can no longer turn away.

– Marine Baume

Marine is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Migration to Peru: How Venezuelans Are Rebuilding Their Lives

Migration to PeruMigration to Peru has dramatically changed in recent history. Many Peruvians have left the country for better economic opportunities, but Peru has now become one of South America’s major destinations for Venezuelans in search of safety, work and a new life. According to the U.N. Refugee Agency, Peru had 530,369 Venezuelans asylum-seekers and 4,957 formally recognized refugees as of June 2025. These numbers show how migration to Peru has become an important humanitarian and economic issue for the country.

Why Venezuelans Are Migrating to Peru

Venezuela’s economic collapse became one of the main reasons for migration to Peru. In 2017, Venezuela’s annual inflation rate was 438.1%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making goods and services harder to afford and wages less stable. Inflation, shortages of food, medicine and essential services pushed many Venezuelans to migrate in search of safety and economic stability. Peru became an attractive destination where they could work and have a chance at a new life.

Challenges After Arrival

Despite many Venezuelans arriving in Peru with strong educational backgrounds, many have found it difficult to find jobs that match their qualifications. The Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement reports that 30% of Venezuelans in Peru have a tertiary education, compared with 21% of Peruvians. However, many Venezuelans are working low-productivity jobs, with 40% working in elementary occupations and 26% working in sales and services. This information shows that many Venezuelans are overqualified for their jobs, yet they still cannot find positions that match their degree.

One reason for this mismatch is that many Venezuelans cannot validate their degrees or professional credentials in Peru. The Joint Data Center reports that only 8% of highly educated Venezuelan migrants had validated their educational degrees, with the main barrier being the cost of the process. As a result, skilled Venezuelans may end up in lower-paying or informal work. Some have turned to digital jobs, including food delivery, where Venezuelans make up an estimated 53% of delivery workers.

Discrimination can also make the integration process harder. The Joint Data Center reports that almost one-third of Venezuelans in Peru have experienced some form of discrimination, and the percentage is higher among those with higher levels of education. Public perception can influence access to employment, including false ideas that Venezuelans are taking jobs or increasing crime. These obstacles show that migration to Peru is not only about arrival but also about access to work, legal recognition and social acceptance.

Organizations Helping Migrants Integrate

Organizations such as the U.N. Refugee Agency and Education Cannot Wait have made efforts to support Venezuelans. The U.N. Refugee Agency helps Venezuelans by providing legal protection, documentation and access to basic services. Through protection spaces and partner organizations, UNHCR provides guidance on rights, refugee status, migration procedures and available services. It has also connected Venezuelans with health services, education and employment support. As of 2025, UNHCR had assisted 39,029 people, supported 557 families with case management and provided legal assistance to 2,885 people. These efforts have helped Venezuelans move from emergency survival toward long-term integration in Peru.

Education Cannot Wait has also helped Venezuelans in Peru by supporting children’s access to education. Since 2019, ECW has supported the Government of Peru and national partners through $1.8 million in emergency grants and a $7.4 million Multi-Year Resilience Programme. These programs helped refugee, migrant and host-community children access education, recover from COVID-19 learning loss and stay safe in schools. Its 2024–2027 Multi-Year Resilience Programme aims to reach 50,850 children and adolescents in Metropolitan Lima and La Libertad. The program supports learning recovery, school materials, teacher training, children with disabilities and violence-prevention efforts, helping Venezuelan children continue their education while making schools more inclusive for migrants and local communities.

Looking Ahead

Venezuelans have made Peru their second home, even while facing challenges such as low-productivity jobs, discrimination and difficulty validating their degrees. However, support from the Peruvian government, UNHCR, ECW and other organizations has helped expand access to documentation, education and safer communities. With continued support, migration to Peru can become not only a story of displacement, but also one of recovery, integration and rebuilding lives.

– Mateo Alcocer

Mateo is based in West Hills, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Life, Community and Poverty in Al-Qalamoun

Poverty in Al-QalamounIn a small region in Lebanon, between the mountains and the sea, lies the town of Al-Qalamoun. Al-Qalamoun is located in northern Lebanon, in the Tripoli district of the North Governorate. It is home to around 4,000 Lebanese citizens and also welcomes refugees from Syria and Palestine.

The town’s supportiveness is discussed in The Borgen Project’s interview with one of the town’s most famous women, who noted that Al-Qalamoun is very hospitable. She also described life in the town, touching on poverty, its consequences and especially the supportive community of Al-Qalamoun.

Poverty in Al-Qalamoun

There have been some changes in this town over the last few years that continue to the present. Education is no longer given the same value it once was. A witness to this change states that the level of public schools has decreased. Before, only a few parents placed their children in private schools, while the rest trusted public schools. They all cared about guaranteeing a good education for their children.

However, in this modern age, parents struggle to afford the fees to enroll their children in private schools. This has demotivated some parents and led them to neglect the importance of education. This poses a threat to the future of the town’s new generation. The possible future of this is intertwined with the town’s job market. 

According to Baynetna Media, the job market is in a “deep crisis.” There are many jobless people despite the town’s large potential. Jobs could be created due to the rich harvest linked to olives, oranges and floral water. However, many young adults did not attend college and therefore have not acquired a high level of education. 

The interviewee explains how this disrupts the marriage market: “Poverty affects the marriage market.” Interestingly, although the town is quite populated, the number of marriages is diminishing. As some families are more impoverished than others, some young adults in Lebanon do not have a clear career path. Especially in this town, they either travel to another country to work in a clothing store or a restaurant or they do not work at all. This leads some of them to grow up with no prospects and, thus, no marriage potential. The lack of education leaves them unable to secure a job.

Baynetna Media highlights that the youth are most affected by the Lebanese labor market. Additionally, the instability of the Lebanese dollar rate plays a significant role in poverty. This prompts people living in urban areas like Al-Qalamoun to “rely on informal and casual employment” to stay afloat. Studies show that “The Lebanese pound ranks as the weakest currency in the world in 2026.” Therefore, even employed citizens suffer from the country’s fragile economy.

An Attempt To Prevent Poverty in Al-Qalamoun

The issue in Al-Qalamoun is a scarcity of jobs in the town itself. Therefore, people seek jobs outside the town. An expert on the town explains, “Money is being spent while making money.” In other words, people spend money on gas or other necessities to work outside the town. However, despite the challenges of finding a job, this does not mean the town’s residents are divided. 

On the contrary, whenever people are made aware of who is in need, they immediately raise awareness. This is done through a WhatsApp channel created for residents, of which all are part. Through this channel, announcements are published and whoever has the capacity to help does so. Additionally, the interviewee expressed how proud she is of the medical community, especially the Red Cross. 

She explained that back in the day, when her mother needed help, they would have to wait for ages. However, nowadays, the Red Cross is very active in Al-Qalamoun. The Lebanese Red Cross is highly significant, as it helps citizens with whatever emergencies they are facing. It makes every effort to help in times of crisis.

Furthermore, there is a significant community group that distributes food every month called the Ibad Al Rahman Association. It is reliable and of great help to people in need. In addition, it is especially active during the holidays. Another example of the stable aid available in this town is the money sent by relatives living abroad. 

In Lebanon, people who travel abroad often try their best to provide their families back home with as much financial help as they can. As a result, in Al-Qalamoun, a significant portion of the support provided comes from individuals who no longer reside in the area. They try to lessen the financial burden of their loved ones. 

The town of Al-Qalamoun is itself an underserved region, in that much of its funding comes from outside. However, that does not mean it is declining. In reality, the support offered by these communities and relatives abroad helps the town’s residents stay afloat.

Moving Forward

Al-Qalamoun is built on a community full of love and support. This support comes from inside and outside the town, showing the impact of its generous and welcoming residents. The interviewee, who has lived there her whole life, offers insight into what poverty looks like in Al-Qalamoun. However, despite the turmoil in Lebanese lives, no one gives up on one another. Together, the town’s residents make sure no one is left behind as they work to ease the financial burden on people’s backs. 

– Lara Ibrahim

Lara is based in Créteil, France and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia

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School Meals and Refugee Education in Chad

Refugee Education in ChadIn Chad, education is the path to a more stable future free of long-term hardship, yet millions of children remain out of school. Education Cannot Wait announced a $20 million grant in December 2024 to extend its multi-year resilience program in Chad, following a report that at least 3.2 million children and adolescents were absent from the classroom. This funding is expected to reach 66,000 crisis-affected learners.

That matters in a country where issues such as conflict spillover, climate shocks and poverty continue to disrupt education. School meals and refugee education in Chad are essential because food support and classroom access can work together during emergencies.

The Crisis in Eastern Chad

The pressure has only intensified since war broke out in neighboring Sudan in April 2023. The World Food Programme (WFP) says the Central African country now hosts 1.5 million refugees. They include 900,000 people who immigrated from Sudan, putting greater strain on communities that were already experiencing immense poverty and food insecurity.

In eastern Chad, UNICEF reported in April 2026 that 900,000 children were not registered in an educational institution. The same report said nearly 300,000 refugee children in the east were not receiving any schooling.

Why School Meals Matter

School meals are one of the clearest tools helping children stay in class. WFP says its emergency response to this problem included providing school meals for more than 125,000 children in refugee-hosting areas in 2025. It also supports home-grown school feeding programs that connect schools with local farmers so children can consume locally sourced meals while rural producers gain a market for their crops. 

According to WFP, this approach has already improved nutrition and school attendance outcomes for more than 110,000 children. In a crisis setting, a meal at school helps improve learning and household food security.

Education Support Beyond Food

Education support is also expanding beyond meals. Education Cannot Wait says more than 40% of the 66,600 children targeted through its new grant will be refugees. The program will also train more than 1,500 teachers in pedagogy, psychosocial support and risk reduction. 

This broader work strengthens school meals and refugee education by combining food assistance with improved classroom support. This is important, since Chad not only needs more students attending school, but it also requires schools that can handle displacement and overcrowding. UNICEF says eastern Chad still needs about 5,000 temporary learning spaces and 10,000 latrines to meet minimum standards.

A Positive Path Forward

These efforts are particularly important for girls. In its 2024–2028 Chad country strategic plan, WFP said that increasing home-grown school feeding can help improve nutrition and health while also keeping girls in school. UNICEF’s report on eastern Chad states that without enough education support, 70,000 children, including refugees, returnees and those from host communities, could miss school days or drop out. 

This raises the risk of child labor and child marriage. In this situation, school meals do more than tackle hunger. They help safeguard children’s futures.

Closing Remarks

School meals and refugee education in Chad are deeply connected. Food support helps children show up in class and stay enrolled, while new education funding helps schools respond to crises more effectively. Despite this, Chad still faces a major gap. 

However, active programs from WFP, UNICEF and Education Cannot Wait show that investments can keep more children in school. If those efforts continue to expand, they could strengthen educational access and long-term resilience for families across the country.

– Ashirah Newton 

Ashirah is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Between Borders: The Calais Refugee Camps

Calais Refugee CampsThe French refugee crisis erupted over a decade ago. However, the reality is that France, and Calais especially, is still receiving hundreds of refugee arrivals, and these asylum seekers are still in need of help. There have been people living in or around the outskirts of Calais since the 1990s, the number of whom caused the Red Cross to open the first official welcome center in a neighboring town in 1999. Despite its closure after three years, informal settlements never went away.

These makeshift Calais refugee camps became known as the Jungle, which was formed by hundreds of discarded tents and shelters to accommodate displaced victims of conflict and poverty. This too was evacuated by the French authorities in 2009. When the refugee crisis intensified in 2015, another Jungle emerged, and by the end of the year, there were approximately 4,500 refugees living in Calais. Currently, this figure stands at an estimated 1o,000. The situation is improving, but the work is not yet done.

A Short History of the Jungle

The Calais refugee camps have a turbulent history, being flooded with arrivals, then being bulldozed and evacuated, before re-emerging. Starting as a government-controlled space, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and charities became increasingly involved, such as Refugee Rights. The NGO Help Refugees conducted a census in February 2016, which found that the Calais refugee camps were home to 5,497 residents, including 651 children, more than 400 of whom were unaccompanied. By November of the same year, violence had broken out within the camps as refugees began to be evicted.

In October 2018, two years after the demolition of the Jungle, Refugee Rights returned to Calais to examine the condition and status quo of the refugees, finding that mental health had declined and the atmosphere was one of exhaustion, despite the sustained efforts of volunteers.

There have been studies and reports, such as a 2018 Cambridge Review of International Affairs study, investigating the balance of governmental and charity-based involvement in handling the ongoing refugee crisis. Such reports ask whether the government should be doing more, such as taking on sole responsibility for search and rescue (SAR) operations. Data and field research from organizations like Refugee Rights demonstrate that something needs to change.

An Inside Perspective

This cycle has replayed multiple times over the last 10 years in the camps of Calais. To better understand how this repetition can be ended and the status quo for refugees can be altered, The Borgen Project interviewed an individual who worked at the Calais refugee camps from 2023 to 2024.

The Borgen Project’s source, who wishes to remain anonymous for professional reasons, worked both in the Calais refugee camps and in the U.K. with an involved charity. For the purposes of anonymity, this individual is referred to as W.

W described the atmosphere of the camps: “The sense of desperation is palpable and grew with the increasing hostility of the political environment even in the short time I spent there. During my stay in the winter, the weather conditions were brutal, promising frostbite, trench foot and many sleepless nights in the freezing cold.” W added that during the time spent volunteering in Calais, five people lost their lives at the border.

However, W continued: “In stark contrast to all the misery in Calais is so much hope and here, hope is more than just a feeling, it is a survival skill. I was struck repeatedly by the resilience and positivity of the communities I met and even on the worst days, there were beautiful moments. A South Sudanese dance party. An Arabic lesson in exchange for an English one. The offer of breakfast around a camping stove.”

There is often a focus on the desperation of refugee situations, but less so on hope and joy. Having an insight into the glimpses of community and happiness is not a reduction of the struggle of displacement, but evidence of the effect charitable aid can have on people’s lives, be that food, shelter, legal advice or companionship. This is exactly the work Red Cross provides to the Calais camps, with a project that functions across three main services: supporting unaccompanied children, providing health care and reuniting families.

The Language of Asylum

Language has become a weighted topic in today’s climate, with extensive debates over connotations, etymology and underlying meanings. The language surrounding refugees and the Calais refugee camps has been scrutinized over time. When asked about the term “Jungle,” W stated: “The term ‘Jungle’ was used by its inhabitants, voluntary workers and media alike, but during my time there, very few people used the term.” W added: “Although we now refer to them as ‘camps,’ there are no official camps in Calais or Dunkirk, only unauthorized, illegal settlements.”

As recently as 2020, videos and photos have been released of capsized boats carrying refugees to Europe’s shores, prompting dismissive responses from some audiences. Despite language becoming more carefully considered in public discourse, there is still a pervasive sense of indignation toward refugees seeking shelter and protection from conflict in their home countries.

Female Refugees in Calais

In 2019, the number of displaced people worldwide was estimated at 79.5 million, and in the same year, the number of refugees in the EU was 6,570,500. Almost 50% of them were women. Rates of underage or forced marriage and sex trafficking rise in times of conflict and poverty, making women one of the most vulnerable demographics. This is supported by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognizes that girls and women are disproportionately affected by armed conflicts. According to U.N. data, at least one in five female refugees or displaced women has experienced sexual violence. A World Health Organization (WHO) report acknowledges the same, but does not account for undocumented immigrants, thus underestimating the magnitude of the issue.

When asked about women’s experience, W answered: “There are relatively few female refugees in Calais. The vast majority were men and many were unaccompanied minors aged 13-17, often risking their lives on the dangerous journeys in hopes of providing their families with a safer route. For example, Libya is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for sex trafficking, so for refugees coming to Europe from countries like Sudan and Eritrea, it is rare for men to bring their wives and children with them. Nonetheless, there is a small presence of women and children.”

The gender imbalance in Calais demonstrates the persistent demand for more representation and female-directed aid in these situations.

A Look Toward the Future

The Calais refugee camps are not a thing of the past, and though media representation may have dwindled, charitable aid persists. Care4Calais works both in the camps and in the U.K. to offer field support and organize food, clothing and supply packages to refugees, visiting sites twice a week to deliver direct aid, charge phones and bring hot tea, food and firewood, as well as engaging in social activities with them.

According to W, companionship plays an important role in supporting the refugees in Calais. W shared that communication often happened without words due to language barriers: “One day, I played Connect 4 with a Sudanese man for hours. We didn’t exchange more than a handful of words, but it was nonetheless a mutually meaningful experience.”

Another NGO, Safe Passage, has been present in Calais since 2016, providing legal aid to help ensure stable futures for refugees. Since its establishment, Safe Passage has protected 3,500 children and reconnected them with their families, granted 260 visas, overturned five anti-refugee policies and trained more than 260 individuals to continue legal advising for future refugees.

With the dedication and support of NGOs in collaboration with governments, places like the Calais refugee camps can become better-supported spaces for displaced people. Organizations such as Red Cross, Care4Calais and Safe Passage continue to demonstrate that sustained charitable and legal support makes a measurable difference in the lives of those who have fled conflict and poverty.

– Jaya Noonan

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Higher Education in Greece Addresses Local and Refugee Poverty

Higher Education in GreeceIn the wake of one of the worst economic crises in European history, Greece suffers the fourth worst national poverty rate in the continent, ahead of only Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. With 26.9% of the Greek population at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024, these economic setbacks have also begun to bleed into the education system. Greece shares one of the worst literacy rates in Europe, at only 94% among its adult and youth population in 2026, despite boasting one of the continent’s highest secondary-education completion rates.

Regardless of these challenges, however, higher education in Greece remains key in battling poverty and unemployment rates, with a degree or post-secondary qualification halving the unemployment rate from 24% to 12%, which in turn reduces the poverty rate from nearly 27% to 10.7%. Higher education in Greece traditionally takes the form of university education, however, since joining the European Economic Community in 1981, the country has taken steps to provide free adult education and training, in order to improve the skills of the general workforce beyond formal education. It is therefore of paramount importance to ensure as many students as possible in Greece remain within the education system, ensuring higher wages, increased literacy rates and a better quality of life.

Education and the Greek Economy

While Greece falls to the bottom of all Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in education spending per post-secondary student, at around $5,620 USD compared to the median spend of $20,234, public funding still accounts for more than 78% of higher education spending in the country.

This means that while the state contributes the appropriate proportion of funds to tertiary education, it simply can’t provide the necessary financial support for universities and educational facilities to fund necessary reforms for higher education. As a result, the higher education system suffers from complexities such as delays in qualification completions and students being pushed into studying abroad.

NGOs such as American Councils Greece and the Elix Programs are supporting these issues, promoting exchange programs and volunteering in education, environmental protection and social exclusion, in order to provide opportunities for education and qualifications outside of financial constraints.

Importantly, Greece remains in significant debt to fellow European nations, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which offered bailouts throughout the economic crisis in order to stabilize the Greek economy. While Greece is making remarkable bounds in recovering these debts, the work of foundations and NGOs in providing accessible education is crucial in these debts being repaid. As citizens gain qualifications to enter well-paying jobs, the economy is rebuilt and vital public spending can go towards helping those at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Refugee Education

Greece houses approximately 50,000 refugees, the vast majority of whom live below the poverty line, with its geographical location making it the primary entry point for those fleeing conflict and poor living conditions in the Middle East and Northeast Africa. With current laws in neighboring countries no longer allowing these refugees to travel further into Europe, most remain in and integrate into the country and its cultures. This includes the education system, where all children, including refugees, are required to enter compulsory education until they are 15.

However, these statistics don’t account for the approximately 15,000 refugees held on small islands as a result of the EU-Turkey migration deal, with very limited opportunities for formal education. In these circumstances, organizations such as Action for Education and the All Children in Education programme, which has reached more than 25,000 migrant children since 2021, are paramount to providing centers for education up to 23 years old, teaching local languages, relevant skills and trades, as well as providing important safeguarding measures for vulnerable people.

Once refugees have graduated Lyceum (lower secondary), they are able to sit the same examinations as locals in order to enter universities or higher technological institutions. However, for those who have completed secondary education in other countries, there are no special provisions granted for refugees to enter higher education in Greece. This is where the work of private agencies and NGOs, who provide educational services for adults, becomes so important. RefugeeEd provides English and Greek language courses for both children and adults, breaking down barriers of communication and integration and providing key opportunities for refugees to enter higher education or formal jobs. Since 2021, RefugeeEd has trained 46 community teachers and reached more than 200 students across six locations in mainland Greece and its surrounding islands.

How Higher Education Is Battling Poverty

Public and private organizations are working to improve access to higher education for both Greek nationals and refugees. This is battling poverty by addressing the country’s income inequality, providing higher returns in lower-paying, non-skilled jobs, as well as increasing the rate of citizens returning to education after initially graduating from compulsory schooling.

The role that higher education in Greece has played in addressing income redistribution is incredibly important and has become far more accessible through the valuable work that the NGOs named in this article are doing, as well as many more who continue to do invaluable work. Statistics suggest Greece’s poverty rates are gradually coming down, as their debts decrease and surpluses rise. As time goes on, Greece will transition into a far more sustainable model of public investment, allowing them to tackle poverty, immigration and education as efficiently as possible.

– Jake Crapper

Jake is based in Leeds, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Sudan Refugee Crisis Response Amid Famine and War

Sudan Refugee Crisis Response Amid Famine and War Sudan has been facing large-scale displacement since its civil war began in 2023. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has forced millions of Sudanese to leave their country. The current displacement total is estimated at 11 million people, and the death toll is estimated at about 400,000. Sudanese displacement numbers currently surpass those of other global conflicts. For example, the conflict in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has displaced around 6 million people. In addition to millions of Sudanese losing their homes, this displacement is causing widespread famine, poverty, lack of access to medical care and telecommunications blackouts. These issues highlight why the Sudan refugee crisis response needs attention.

Even with the high displacement numbers, there is no current sign of a peace deal that would end the conflict. Displaced Sudanese are fleeing to overwhelmed refugee camps in nearby countries such as Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Organizations and governments are working to accelerate the Sudan refugee crisis response to meet growing demand.

Intervention by Nonprofit Organizations

Because of the conditions in Sudan, a number of nonprofit groups such as the United Nations Crisis Relief, Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children are in the area providing resources. Because of the growing famine, groups are prioritizing food access. For example, Save the Children is providing food, water, shelter and medical services that reach 224,000 Sudanese. While this is already a large number, many more are in need of services.  

Proposed Response Efforts

Sudan has experienced conflict in recent decades, including the Darfur War in 2003. Adding resources to the area is considered a strong investment because this is not the first period of displacement that Sudanese people have experienced. Building significant infrastructure in the region would help sustain responses to future crises. From there, governments and nonprofit groups could focus on long-term stability rather than immediate nutrition and medical needs.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has developed a strategy it believes will best support the Sudan refugee crisis response. According to the UNHCR, there needs to be a focus on keeping borders open across seven countries to support asylum seekers. The U.N. and various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) will then implement resources for displaced populations. This will include increased food access, medical care, expanded agriculture, general education and vocational education programs. To establish these programs without straining neighboring countries, the UNHCR has stated that a large investment must be made.

A Way Forward

The largest obstacle is the proposed budget for relief. The UNHCR estimates a need of $907 million to make this plan work. Because the number of displaced people is so large and issues like famine require quick action, significant resources are necessary. The most urgent needs, such as addressing famine, will be addressed with available and incoming resources, while funds can be raised for additional programs.

– Nicole Miller

Nicole is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Job Training for Refugees in Turkey Strengthens Communities

Job Training for Refugees in TurkeyTurkey hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with more than 3 million registered Syrian refugees, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. Economic pressures have made access to stable employment difficult for many displaced individuals and vulnerable citizens alike. In response, job training for refugees in Turkey has become a strategy to strengthen livelihoods while promoting shared economic participation.

Many refugees in Turkey face significant barriers when they try to enter the formal labor market, including limited access to certified vocational training, challenges with skills recognition and work permit requirements. The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that regulatory and structural obstacles push many refugees into informal employment, increasing their vulnerability and limiting long-term stability. At the same time, rising inflation and labor market instability have placed growing economic pressure on Turkish citizens, particularly workers in lower-income sectors. In response, policymakers and development organizations design programs that align vocational training with employer demand and encourage businesses to hire workers formally.

Aligning Skills With Industry Demand

From November 2022 to January 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) implemented a workforce initiative focused on Turkey’s textile sector. The project aimed to expand employment pathways for Syrian refugees and members of host communities through targeted vocational training.

The initiative, titled “Decent and Sustainable Job Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities in the Turkish Textile Sector,” aligned training directly with labor market needs. Turkey’s textile industry remains one of the country’s major export sectors and a significant source of employment across manufacturing and supply chains. The Government of the Republic of Korea funded the project with $178,620. In 2023 alone, the program directed $131,522 toward training and implementation activities.

Rather than offering generalized training, the program developed sector-specific curricula in collaboration with textile industry partners to address identified labor market needs. It provided on-the-job training at employer premises, strengthening participants’ practical skills and increasing their chances of securing formal, sustainable employment. By working closely with private-sector actors, the project connected skills development directly to hiring pathways.

Promoting Shared Economic Participation

The project targeted both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Turkish citizens, aiming to strengthen social cohesion by expanding access to vocational training and formal employment pathways.

Access to formal employment plays a key role in economic stability. Formal jobs often provide regulated wages, safer working conditions and access to social protection systems. For displaced individuals, stable employment can reduce reliance on informal labor markets, which frequently offer inconsistent income and limited worker protections.

In addition to UNDP’s textile sector initiative, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has implemented broader employment and vocational training programs to improve refugees’ access to formal labor markets in Turkey. The ILO works with government institutions, employers and worker organizations to expand skills development, promote formal hiring and strengthen labor market governance.

Economic Integration and Long-Term Impact

The World Bank emphasizes that integrating refugees into labor markets can contribute to long-term economic growth when programs align skills development with employer demand. Workforce initiatives that connect vocational education to employer needs can reduce reliance on short-term assistance while strengthening national economies.

Beyond employment-focused initiatives, international agencies have also invested in strengthening the textile sector itself. The United Nations Environment Programme’s InTex Programme trained 230 industry representatives and supported 32 small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting eco-innovation and circular production practices in its first phase. By building technical capacity within the textile value chain, such programs demonstrate how skills development can improve both environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness in refugee-hosting countries.

Employment programs are increasingly recognized as a key component of refugee response strategies. International development agencies note that long-term displacement requires economic solutions that move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance. When refugees gain access to skills training and formal employment, they contribute to local consumption, industrial productivity and broader economic activity. Host countries may also benefit from addressing labor shortages in specific sectors.

Concluding Thoughts

The UNDP textile sector project concluded in January 2025 after completing its planned activities. By combining targeted skills training, industry partnerships and inclusive enrollment, the initiative demonstrated how job training for refugees in Turkey can contribute to poverty reduction, economic resilience and shared prosperity in refugee-hosting countries.

– Isil Ertas Senturk

Isil is based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Thailand Is Granting Myanmar Refugees Access to Employment

Myanmar Refugees Access to EmploymentThailand has enacted a policy granting Myanmar refugees living in border camps access to employment. Reuters reports that this policy shift will grant 80,000 refugees the right to work; many of them have been living at these border camps for 40 years. According to UNHCR, around 47% of refugees were born in these shelters.

Background

A violent military regime drove the refugees out of Myanmar. Since then, they have been living in nine camps spread across the Thai border and have been completely dependent upon foreign aid. A diminishing foreign aid budget, particularly from the United States, has contributed to this decision.

According to Léon De Riedtmatten, executive director of the Border Consortium (TBC), the United States was one of the largest donors to the refugee camps. The TBC is one of the largest suppliers of food to the camps. The current administration has significantly reduced the overseas budget this year, which has, in turn, forced the TBC to provide aid only to the most vulnerable. According to De Riedmatten, Thai officials knew that no other government would be willing to support as much as the United States would.

As a result, Thai officials approved employment access for Myanmar refugees to reduce labor shortages and protect human rights. Cambodian workers leaving the labor force following an armed conflict at the border also influenced this policy change.

Economic Impacts

Tammi Sharpe, a UNHCR representative, has emphasized this development as a turning point. According to Sharpe, “With this policy shift, Thailand transforms hosting refugees into an engine of growth – for refugees, for host communities and for the nation as a whole.” She further confirms that providing employment access to Myanmar refugees benefits both Thailand and the refugees themselves.

Refugees will have the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families while also stimulating the Thai economy. Job growth is expected to increase as thousands of Myanmar refugees join the workforce and, in turn, the national GDP is also projected to rise. This marks a positive step toward poverty reduction.

As more refugees gain employment, dependence on aid is expected to decrease, while social mobility improves. Sharpe explained that the UNHCR has partnered with the World Bank to analyze economic data tracking how refugees are entering and participating in the formal job market. Humanitarian organizations also hope to expand employment access for refugees living outside the camps.

Conclusion

Granting Myanmar refugees access to employment marks a turning point in their relationship with Thailand. It will serve as a mutually beneficial process; Myanmar refugees will receive the means to support themselves and increase their standard of living, while the Thai economy will experience a boost in job growth and GNP. Poverty will diminish directly for the refugees and indirectly over time for people living in Thailand via systemic change. Overall, this policy change provides a hopeful trajectory for the country’s economic future.

– Sasha Banaei

Sasha is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr