migrants and refugees Archives

Rescue groups decry loss of migrant lives in Mediterranean

Apr 25, 2021

Rescue groups and the Vatican are decrying the latest deaths of migrants who put to sea in traffickers’ unseaworthy boats, amid laments that central Mediterranean nations are choosing not to dispatch vessels to save them.

By Maria Grazia Murru and Frances D'Emilio

Pope: Migrants begged for help at sea, shamefully ignored

Apr 25, 2021

Pope Francis on Sunday decried as shameful the deaths of 130 migrants in the Mediterranean, saying they pleaded for two days for help for their overcrowded, foundering rubber dinghy in the sea off Libya but potential rescuers choose “to look the other way.”

By Frances D'Emilio

JRS launches border program to address migrants’ psychological needs

Apr 23, 2021

Migrants arriving in Ciudad Juárez in recent years have remained stuck in the Mexican border city, unable to claim asylum in the United States and vulnerable to crimes such as kidnapping, robbery and extortion.

By David Agren

After meeting Pope, UN refugee head appeals to Italy not to impede migrants rescue boats

Apr 17, 2021

The head of the U.N. refugee agency on Friday said he has urged Italy not to unnecessarily impede NGOs that operate migrant rescue ships in the central Mediterranean, as warmer weather is expected to bring the usual seasonal uptick in the departure of smugglers’ boats from Libya.

By Colleen Barry

Irish bishops call for swift action in resettlement of child refugees

Apr 15, 2021

Ireland’s bishops are calling on the government to “act quickly” in resettling refugee children from the Moira refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece.

By Charles Collins

Kenyan bishops urge government to keep refugee camps for now

Apr 13, 2021

Catholic bishops in Kenya are urging the government to shelve plans to close two refugee camps in the north, which host refugees who fled civil war and famine in Somalia and South Sudan.

By Fredrick Nzwili, CNS

Colombian church groups mobilize to help newest Venezuelan refugees

Apr 9, 2021

Church groups in Colombia are mobilizing to support thousands of Venezuelan refugees who recently fled a military offensive and are stuck in a remote Colombian border town.

By Manuel Rueda

Patriarchs urge Lebanese, Syrians to find hope in the Resurrection

Apr 5, 2021

In Easter messages, two Catholic patriarchs criticized the situation in Lebanon and urged the faithful to cling to the hope of the Resurrection despite the prevailing darkness.

By Doreen Abi Raad