The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), Settlement Services International (SSI), and Amnesty International Australia undertook a joint field visit to Thailand and Bangladesh from 14–20 June to mark World Refugee Day and strengthen regional collaboration on refugee protection and durable solutions across the Asia-Pacific. The delegation engaged with refugee-led organisations, civil society partners, UN agencies, humanitarian actors, government stakeholders, and displaced communities in both countries, including visits to refugee-hosting areas along the Thailand–Myanmar border and in Cox’s Bazar. The field visit also included meetings in  Dkaha with the NGO Affairs Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UNHCR Bangladesh. Discussions focused on protection challenges, access to livelihoods and economic inclusion, complementary pathways and resettlement, how to amplify community-led initiatives, and the importance of meaningful participation of people with lived experience in shaping policy and practice. 

 

Here are some reflections from the delegation:

 

“I may not have all the answers or solutions, but I am, and I will always be, with refugee communities. Our work must be informed by their voices, grounded in their lived experiences, and guided by what they determine to be in their best interests.” — Hafsar Tameesuddin, Co-Secretary General, APRRN 

 

“Against a backdrop of extremely harsh and unacceptable conditions, the determination, drive and entrepreneurship of so many individuals working to improve opportunities for their communities was truly outstanding. We also remain committed to working with partners and members to improve the human rights and dignity of oppressed and marginalised communities, always firmly grounded in the diverse lived experiences of the people we work with.” — Klaus Dik Nielsen, Co-Secretary General, APRRN 

 

“This visit has reinforced the importance of partnership, advocacy and lived experience in shaping solutions that are humane and lasting. People forced to flee must not be forgotten, and their voices must remain at the centre of our efforts.” — Violet Roumeliotis, CEO, SSI

“As a former refugee myself, I know what it means to live with uncertainty and to hope that someone, somewhere, will listen. Refugees do not need our pity—they need opportunity, safety, meaningful inclusion, and the chance to contribute.” — Zaki Haidari, Refugee Rights Campaigner, Amnesty International Australia 

 

“Hearing directly from the incredible women and Rohingya refugees, in their own words, was a profound reminder of why this work matters. One reflection has stayed with me: a hijra member who travelled to the Hague to bear witness at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — as part of the genocide case against Myanmar for the treatment of the Rohingya people.” — Carmen Ghaly, International Protection Advisor, Settlement Services International (SSI) 

 

“These communities are not waiting for solutions; they are creating them. Meaningful humanitarian response must be built with communities, not for them.” — Yamamah Agha, General Manager Service Delivery – Settlement at SSI 

 

“We were reminded that behind every headline or statistic are people with skills, leadership, hope, and aspirations—people who contribute, lead, and strengthen communities when given the opportunity. This is not just a humanitarian issue. It is a question of leadership, of equity, and of the kind of societies we choose to build.” — Sonia Vignjevic, General Manager Strategic Partnerships & Sustainable Development, SSI

 

In Bangkok, the delegation held a number of meetings with APRRN members, partners, and allies, including The Border Consortium, UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, and the outgoing Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand, Faiyaz Murshid Kazi. 

 

ABC Asia reported on Hafsar’s visit to Cox’s Bazaar in the week leading up to World Refugee Day. Hafsar said that displaced communities in the region are not waiting for international help, but are organising themselves. ABC Asia wrote that the number of displaced people in the world has fallen for the first time in a decade, according to the latest UN report. But there's a group of people who cannot return home. 1.2 million Rohingya forced out of Myanmar remain stuck in a sprawling makeshift city in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. There, they live in appalling conditions, with overstretched water and sanitation services, no right to work, and little access to education. But on a visit to the camp last week, humanitarian workers from Australia found that, despite the hardship, refugee-led groups are playing a bigger role in making change. 

 

Ali Reza attended two public events, “Lost in the Calm: Poetry and Life as a Refugee with Ali Reza Yawari,” held on 15 and 17 June 2026 in Fremantle, Western Australia, and organised by Grandmothers for Refugees. Through poetry readings and audience dialogue, Ali spoke about the persecution of Hazaras in Afghanistan, the realities of prolonged forced displacement, detention, family separation, and the challenges faced by refugees in Indonesia who are denied the right to work, study, and build secure futures. He encouraged the participants to engage in civic advocacy by communicating with their elected representatives about the situation of refugees in Indonesia and the impact of Australian policies, including the July 2014 cut-off date policy changes that have significantly limited access to humanitarian pathways for many refugees residing in Indonesia. 

 

On World Refugee Day, Settlement Services International (SSI), the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and Amnesty International Australia brought together refugee leaders, civil society organisations, governments, policymakers and regional stakeholders to reflect on Australia's role in advancing refugee rights and protection across the Asia-Pacific. This event marked several significant milestones: One million refugees resettled in Australia, plus 50 years of resettlement from Thailand, and a decade of partnership between SSI and APRRN. It also recognised Thailand's leadership in expanding work rights and pathways for refugee inclusion and self-reliance, and elevated refugee-led perspectives on protection and community participation across the region. Watch the full event.

 

APRRN Meets Rohingya Families Cut Off From Food Aid: On Friday, 12 June, Hafsar Tameesuddin visited Nayapara Registered Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh,  to meet members of the Nayapara Kutupalong Registered Refugee Union (NKRRU). Scores of refugees attended the gathering, making it one of the largest public discussions yet held on the plight of families whose food rations and other assistance have been suspended following their refusal to undergo biometric re-verification.  

 

Hafsar attended the fifteenth Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration (ADFM) meeting, held on June 23-24 in Jakarta, which brought together 30 government and non-government leaders from 8 nations to discuss key challenges and opportunities for deeper cooperation on forced migration in the region. This meeting took place one year on from major global funding cuts to international aid and resettlement programs, and in the midst of ongoing conflict in the Middle East and civil war in Myanmar, which are placing significant pressure on humanitarian support across Southeast Asia. With conditions worsening across refugee camps and shelters, displaced populations are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, human trafficking, and dangerous maritime movements. 2026 is likely to be the deadliest year on record for smuggling routes through the Andaman Sea. Find Briefing papers and participant profiles in the ADFM Participant Pack.

 

Klaus Dik Nielsen spoke on the first day of the 4th JDC Research Conference on Forced Displacement, held from 4–6 June 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, at a Policy Discussion on Returns. Convened by the World Bank–UNHCR Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement (JDC), the conference brought together researchers, policymakers, government representatives, international organisations, and development partners to explore emerging evidence on forced displacement and its implications for policy and practice. During the Panel Discussion on Returns, Klaus provided APRRN’s regional perspective on what interim measures host governments and development actors can put in place to make protracted displacement more sustainable while return conditions remain uncertain, and emphasised access to education and livelihoods. He also highlighted the necessity of meaningful refugee participation, locally led responses, and the use of evidence that is driven by and grounded in the diverse lived experiences of displaced communities. 

 

On 22 June, Carmen Ghaly from SSI and Klaus had a number of meetings at UN ESCAP, including with the outgoing Representative of UNHCR Thailand, Tammy Sharpe, UN Women, and ILO. The meeting centred around Australia’s potential role in Thailand and the region, migration governance in the context of an ageing population in Asia and the Pacific, complementary pathways to Australia and other resettlement countries, and promoting equitable opportunities and outcomes for all women locally and globally.

 

Membership Update: APRRN was pleased to welcome five new organisational members from Malaysia, Australia, Mongolia, and Bangladesh during this reporting period, further strengthening the network's diversity and regional reach. These new members bring valuable expertise and commitment to advancing refugee rights, protection, and inclusion across the Asia-Pacific. With these additions, APRRN's membership has grown to 336 organisational and individual members, reflecting the continued growth of a vibrant and collaborative network dedicated to promoting rights-based, refugee-inclusive approaches and supporting collective advocacy throughout the region. Get to know our new members below:

• Refugee Women Support Collective
• Tawasul Foundation
• Reimagine Education 
• Freedom Wing NGO
• Council of Minorities

 

 

Member’s Spotlight! 

Settlement Service International

Settlement Services International (SSI) is a community-based not-for-profit that supports refugees, people seeking asylum, and migrants to rebuild their lives in Australia. While much of our work is grounded in direct service delivery — settlement support, employment programs, housing, and community development — we also carry a strong commitment to advocacy and international engagement, recognising that durable solutions for displaced people require action well beyond Australia's borders.

This year marks 10 years of partnership between SSI and APRRN. Over the past decade, that partnership has strengthened SSI's international work, from joint advocacy on protection and durable solutions to collaboration with civil society, UN agencies, and government stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific. It's a relationship we're genuinely proud of, and one that continues to sharpen and expand what SSI is able to contribute regionally.

Most recently, this partnership brought SSI together with APRRN and Amnesty International Australia for a joint field trip to Thailand and Bangladesh, coinciding with World Refugee Day. Off the back of that trip, SSI, APRRN, and Amnesty will be releasing a joint report capturing key findings and priority areas for ongoing advocacy — we look forward to sharing this with the network soon.

 

ACTIONS AND NEWS FROM MEMBERS AND PARTNERS

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Federal Government to maintain its commitment to Australia’s Humanitarian Program, as new United Nations projections for 2027 show that 2.37 million refugees require urgent resettlement. Read the analysis by RCoA

Projected global resettlement needs 2026: In its 2027 Projected Global Resettlement Needs report, UNHCR has identified 2,369,745 refugees in priority need of resettlement over the coming year. More than half of them were displaced from conflicts and persecution in just five countries – Afghanistan (357,890), South Sudan (307,630), Sudan (306,450), Syria (283,645) and Myanmar (238,890). On a regional basis, resettlement needs are greatest in Eastern and Southern Africa (840,610), Asia-Pacific (605,610), West and Central Africa (301,980), Middle East and North Africa (237,710) and Europe, principally Türkiye (216,180). 

 

Peace Point-Myanmar (PPM) is a Rohingya community-based human rights organisation working to promote human rights, democratic values, peace, and civic engagement. We focus on empowering marginalised communities, particularly Rohingya youth and women, through education, training, advocacy, and awareness-raising initiatives in areas such as human rights, safe migration, and anti-human trafficking. 

1. World Refugee Day 2026 Series 4

2. World Refugee Day 2026 Series 3

3. World Refugee Day 2026 Series 2

4. World Refugee Day 2026 Series 1

5. Our team celebrates World Refugee Day in the Rohingya Refugee camps in Bangladesh

 

APRRN Members, Renee Dixon, the co-founder of Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN), and Dr Tristan Harley were featured in an SBS TV interview, digital story and podcast about the new ‘Bridge to Safety’ program facilitating the resettlement of LGBTQIA+ refugees, and highlighting the important role of refugee communities in the implementation of Australia’s humanitarian program. 

 

No Fingerprint, No Food: How the UN Is Failing the Rohingya, Article by Shafiur Rahman. 

Some 400 families in refugee camps in Bangladesh have been barred from receiving aid after refusing to provide biometric data for registration.

 

Fortify Rights: submission to the U.N. to Review Thailand’s Human Rights Record in Fourth Cycle Review in November 2026.

 

Past, Present, and Future of Refugee Policy Dialogue in Thailand.

 

Husson Ahmad, While some resettled Rohingya refugees continue to make statements and launch public campaigns from the safety of third countries, it is the Rohingya refugees still living in Malaysia who often bear the consequences. What may appear to be advocacy can sometimes create tensions, fuel negative perceptions, and provoke backlash against those who remain on the ground. 

 

Indonesia’s first Refugee Community Paralegal Handbook for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases was launched, co-created by The Sisterhood and SUAKA. A practical resource for refugee women supporting other refugee women to access safety, justice, and protection, the handbook brings together practical guidance on survivor-centred support, legal protection, referrals, documentation, and safe accompaniment in Indonesia. It reflects the power of women supporting women, and the importance of strengthening community-based protection from within. 
 

Pioneering Kaldor Centre research has shown that labour-mobility pathways for skilled refugees are delivering strong outcomes in regional Australia – for employers, communities and refugees.

 

Dr Claire Higgins appeared before a Senate committee to share the evidence on solutions that help address chronic skill shortages in the regions while ensuring skilled refugees find employment and safety. Her policy brief with Dr Louise Olliff draws on a multi-year, independent study across all states and territories. At its centre is a simple insight: there is a global pool of displaced people with valuable skills and experience, but getting their talent to areas with critical shortages is harder than it needs to be in Australia. 

 

News from the region

Afghanistan: 

UNHCR 2025 report section

There are 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the world, of whom 2.2 million are registered in Iran and Pakistan alone. Another 3.5 million people are internally displaced, having fled their homes searching for refuge within the country… Facing an ongoing humanitarian crisis, the resilience of refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities is slowly reaching its limit. Moreover, Afghanistan continues to grapple with multiple humanitarian crises, deteriorating human rights (particularly for girls and women), economic instability, and severe climate shocks.

 

More than 22,000 Afghans were returned from Pakistan and Iran between 12 June and 19 June, of whom 20,764 were returned from Pakistan and 1,846 from Iran. The deportations are part of a larger effort by Pakistan and Iran to remove undocumented Afghan nationals, which has intensified over the past year. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced more than 2.4 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan since Pakistan’s program to repatriate undocumented foreigners started in September 2023. 

 

After fleeing the Taliban, the Ganji sisters are on their way to Australian citizenship. Adiba Ganji has reunited with her sister, Arya, in Melbourne after she fled Afghanistan in 2021. Arya has received her Australian citizenship through a little-known pathway for minors, while Adiba is expected to obtain her citizenship in a ceremony later this year. Migration lawyers say people from refugee backgrounds face additional barriers when applying for citizenship.

 

The EU Commission and 15 member states held talks with Taliban officials on returning failed Afghan asylum-seekers, the first time a delegation from the Taliban government has been invited to Brussels. Of the 14,270 Afghans ordered to leave the EU in the first nine months of last year, only 340 (2%) were returned to their home country, compared to the average EU return rate of about 29%. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Afghans should not be forced to return to a situation where they are at risk of torture.  
 

Australia: 

The Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) Program becomes permanent, after a four-year pilot phase, from 1 July 2026. An evaluation of the program found that ‘96 per cent of CRISP refugees felt welcome in their community, and 71 per cent said the program made it easier for them to make friends with people from different cultural backgrounds. Since early 2023, one couple in South Australia has supported two refugee families, from Afghanistan and Myanmar, to settle in their community. The couple remarked that the refugees reciprocated the resilience and kindness shown to them. ‘Couple welcomes refugees to home 'like family' in resettlement program’.

 

Amid the Socceroos success at the FIFA World Cup, new arrivals in Australia have drawn attention to the importance of football and sport for belonging and creating community.

• ‘Football helps migrants on their settlement journey and children 'reclaim their joy'’.
• ‘They fled war as child refugees, now they’re playing at World Cup 2026’.

 

Yarra City Council in Melbourne has commemorated the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese migration to Australia following the Vietnam War with a new public artwork. ‘Council Marks 50 Years of Vietnamese Migration’.

 

How simple changes to Australia’s skilled migration program could add billions a year to the economy.

 

Once locked out of tertiary education, Alina is now rebuilding her life as a refugee student in Australia. Refugee students are rebuilding new lives in Australia through a new settlement pilot program that connects their university studies with industries where there are critical labour shortages, like nursing. It has been achieved with the partnership of non-profits, Australian universities, and businesses.

 

The High Court ruled against the government’s attempt to mount a defence against a foreign citizen’s claim for compensation for wrongful imprisonment. Following this decision, the Australian government settled a class action by 38 former detainees of the Woomera detention centre in the southern Australian desert. The remote immigration detention centre was opened in 1999 and closed in 2003. Over this time, the 400-person facility held nearly 1,500 detainees at its peak, mostly from Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Government to pay $28m to settle immigration detention negligence claim.
• Australia agrees to pay millions to compensate asylum seekers locked in the desert.
• Australia to pay $20M in compensation to asylum seekers detained in the desert.

 

 

Bangladesh: 

UNHCR Bangladesh Report Section

 

Why local organisations are frustrated with UN pooled funds.

“International humanitarian groups only seem interested in ‘localisation’ when there’s no money. When there’s $2 billion on the table, the system returns to normal.”

 

123 India-registered Rohingyas pushed in by BSF still in BD - BGB foils 43 push-in bids in one month. BGB headquarters data reveal that India pushed 2,344 people, including 126 Indian nationals, into Bangladesh between May 7, 2025, and January 26, 2026, excluding Rohingyas… India had pushed 44 unregistered Rohingyas and 80 registered with UNHCR Bangladesh into Bangladesh.

 

Separate Prisons for Rohingya?

”Sources in the Prisons Department said that the Prisons Department wants to set up a separate and open prison for Rohingya prisoners on the model of Malaysia's Community Rehabilitation Programme (CRP). Rohingya prisoners in various prisons in the country, including Cox's Bazar Prison, will be kept there. The prisoners will get leave once a month to meet their families. After the leave, they will have to return to the prison. Prison guards, police and non-governmental organizations will work in coordination there. Infiltrators and refugees in Malaysia are kept in CRP.”

 

 

India:

UNHCR India Factsheet December 2025.

 

Indian authorities have deported thousands of Bangladeshi citizens in the month since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won elections in the state of West Bengal last month. Shortly after rising to power, BJP officials ordered the creation of detention centres for Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims who were fleeing persecution in their native Myanmar and mistreatment in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

 

On the Bangladesh-India Border, BJP Victories Spike Anxieties. Since the BJP takeover of West Bengal, Muslims and Rohingyas in the region talk among themselves in hushed tones and try not to attract attention, worried about their fate.

 

Indonesia:

UNHCR Indonesia Report Section:

Refugees and asylum-seekers live in urban settings in several cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, the greater Jakarta area, Aceh, Medan, Pekanbaru, Tanjung Pinang, Batam, Semarang, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Kupang and others.

In Indonesia, boat arrivals of Rohingya refugees declined to under 1,000, but misinformation and hate speech surged online, fueling tensions and hindering the humanitarian response. Indonesia hosts over 12,700 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Somalia.

 

Iran: 

UNHCR Iran Report Section

The Islamic Republic of Iran has generously hosted forcibly displaced people for more than 40 years, upholding refugee-inclusive policies and largely ensuring their access to essential public services, particularly healthcare and education. According to information available to UNHCR, Iran hosts some 773,000 refugees with Amayesh (760,000 Afghans) or Hoviat cards (12,000 Iraqis), which grant holders temporary residency and access to rights and services … UNHCR estimates that around 2.7 million forcibly displaced people of different documentation statuses reside in Iran, including approximately 2 million others in need of international protection… (In 2025) Rising anti-Afghan sentiment intensified these pressures, leading to the departure of around 1 million Afghans –  a trend expected to continue in 2026. Returns and deportations persist, further increasing the need for sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan.  

 

Malaysia:

UNHCR Malaysia Report Section

Nearly 90% of refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia come from Myanmar (mostly Rohingya), with others originating from more than 60 countries. The population is diverse, comprising men (50%), women (22%), boys (15%) and girls (13%).

 

No safe harbour for refugees from Myanmar in Malaysia.

 

Malaysia: New Refugee Registration Scheme Must Protect Rights.

 

Hari Raya korban controversy reignites wave of anti-Rohingya sentiment in Malaysia.

 

Decoding Malaysia’s Anti-Rohingya Petition.

An online petition calling for the “removal” of Rohingya refugees from Malaysia has rapidly gathered (at the time of writing) over 130,000 signatures in four days. Addressed directly to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, its title is stark and uncompromising - “Remove Rohingya from Malaysia.”

 

Rohingya activist denies land demand claim, calls viral narrative 'misinformation and scapegoating'.

 

Media Statement No. 31-2026_SUHAKAM Condemns Escalating Hate and Dehumanisation of the Rohingya Community.

 

When “Removal” Means Erasure for Rohingya.

Rohingya activist Razia Sultana responds to Malaysia’s anti-Rohingya petition, linking “removal” rhetoric to refoulement, Wang Kelian, and regional erasure.

 

Only 0.02pct of crimes involve Rohingya, says IGP.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail … urged the public to stop engaging in harmful speculation about the Rohingya community, saying that only 89 people from the group had been involved in criminal activities from 2024 until today.

 

Penang urges stricter control as refugee numbers top over 20,000.

 

Home Ministry rejects claims of inhumane treatment of migrant, refugee children.

 

Myanmar: 

Religious Fundamentalism in Myanmar: Post-Coup Repression of Gender Rights. For defenders of women, gender, and sexual minority (WGSM) rights in Myanmar, threats and intimidation from Buddhist fundamentalists purportedly seeking to “defend” the religion are not new. The report shows the coordinated nature of the repression – including legal restrictions, online harassment, and physical violence. 

 

Nauru and Manus Island:

A new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants confirmed that Australia remained responsible for offshore detainees in Nauru. The Special Rapporteur stated that under international law, States cannot avoid legal responsibility by ‘contracting out their obligations to other States, international organisations or private entities’.

 

In response to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Australian government accepted 128 of the 332 recommendations it received. One of the recommendations refused was the explicit call for the government to end offshore processing in Nauru.

• Australia is responsible for offshore detainees: UN report.
• Scathing UN report confirms Australia cannot outsource responsibility for offshore detention.
• Externalization of migration governance: new trends and specific aspects - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants.
• Australia: UN Human Rights Recommendations Ignored.

 

Labor continues to keep secrets over Nauru offshore detention. The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has delayed the release of its report on Australia’s offshore processing and resettlement arrangements with Nauru and Papua New Guinea. The committee’s terms of reference included examination of payments made by the Australian government since 2022 to contractors and subcontractors involved in these arrangements. Submissions to the Senate Committee focused on the secrecy and human rights concerns surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2025 with the Government of Nauru. 

 

Australia denies responsibility for 'very sick' refugee seeking medivac from PNG. A Kurdish-Iranian man who was transferred to Manus Island by the Australian government in 2013 is severely ill. Advocates state that he is not receiving adequate medication, health and psychological support in Papua New Guinea. The refugee’s family has been seeking medical evacuation to Australia since 2019, while the Australian government has maintained that it is the Papua New Guinea government’s responsibility for the ‘management’ of the remaining refugees who were formerly under regional processing arrangements.

 

New Zealand:

Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies & World Vision New Zealand, An Emergency Protection Framework for Aotearoa New Zealand.

This policy brief proposes an Emergency Protection Framework (EPF) for Aotearoa New Zealand as a standing mechanism that could be activated when an overseas humanitarian emergency requires an onshore protection response. The EPF sets out the main elements in advance: emergency visa pathways, settlement support, coordination and consultation, and options for longer-term durable solutions when return is not safe or feasible.

 

Thailand:

UNHCR Thailand Report Section

Thailand hosts more than 80,000 refugees from Myanmar in nine camps along the border, with approximately 45,000 of working age. Following decades of aid dependency and limited mobility, the Royal Thai Government is poised to shift from an encampment-based model toward a more sustainable, self-reliance-oriented approach.

Beyond the camps, Thailand’s urban areas are home to more than 3,500 refugees and nearly 2,800 asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR. Without formal legal status, they face risks of arrest and detention and are excluded from work and essential services.

 

Tajikistan:

Uncertain Futures and Restricted Movement: Afghan Refugees in Tajikistan.

An estimated 9,000 Afghan migrants currently live in Tajikistan, many of whom had hoped to use the country as a transit point for resettlement to Canada and other destinations. Like in Iran and Pakistan, where governments have initiated mass deportations of Afghan refugees, the government of Tajikistan is making a similar move against Afghan refugees…. In April 2025, 50 Afghans holding refugee documents were deported. In June 2025, another 49 Afghans were deported for reasons that remain unclear. Among them, 36 held valid residency permits, and 13 possessed valid visas.  In early July 2025, Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Tajikistan received an SMS message informing them that they had 15 days to leave the country or face forced deportation. In the days that followed, dozens of Afghans were apprehended and taken away in vans in the Rudaki District of Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, and in Vahdat, a town about 26 miles away from Dushanbe.

 

Afghan migrants in Tajikistan fear arrests, deportation after crackdown.

 

Pakistan:

UNHCR Pakistan Report Section

At the beginning of 2025, Pakistan was hosting some 1.6 million Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers, alongside more than 1.5 million Afghans of different legal statuses. Most Afghan refugees reside in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (54%) and Balochistan (24%), both of which border Afghanistan. Around 30% of Afghans live in rural refugee settlements, while the remaining 70% reside in urban and peri-urban areas.

Since the introduction of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) in 2023, the safety, rights, and well-being of forcibly displaced Afghans in Pakistan have become increasingly constrained. The situation has become particularly challenging in 2025 with the Government of Pakistan implementing the remaining two phases of the plan in 2025, effectively impacting all categories of Afghans and calling for their return back to Afghanistan.

 

Other News:

UNHCR estimated that about 2.4 million refugees will be in need of resettlement in 2027, and called for an urgent expansion in global resettlement to close the gap between needs and available places. Afghans remain the largest group needing resettlement within the 2027 projection, followed by refugees from South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. 

 

ASEAN - AICHR Joint statement by H.E. Anita Ashvini Wahid, H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, and H.E. Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang, Representatives of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to AICHR, on World Refugee Day 2026.

 

More than 3,600 people were displaced in Sudan’s North Darfur state as a result of the deteriorating security situation, according to the International Organisation for Migration. About 1,430 people fled from five villages in the Umbro locality in a single day, after 2,260 people were displaced from two villages in the area a few days previously.   

 

The International Organization for Migration estimated that up to 6.76 million people could be affected by two earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela, and warned that displacement will continue to increase as people seek safety. At least 1,430 people were killed and 3,238 injured by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, and 3,142 families have lost their homes, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. More than 51,000 remained missing three days after the quakes, with rescue efforts hampered by frequent aftershocks and damage to infrastructure. 

 

The Kurdistan region is hosting more than 854,000 displaced persons, according to newly released data from the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre. The total includes 285,000 refugees from neighbouring countries and other Kurdish regions, and 571,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled from instability and violence in other parts of Iraq. 

 

Marking World Refugee Day on 20 June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to strengthen support for people forced to flee from conflict, violence or persecution, and the host communities that welcome them. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih set out a target of cutting prolonged displacement in half within ten years. 

 

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an overhaul of the UK asylum system, including proposals to expedite deportations of individuals living in the country illegally, along with new legal routes for refugees to come to the UK. Mahmood said a new scheme allowing organisations to sponsor refugees, based on Canada's approach, will be introduced later this year. 

 

Reports & Publications

UNHCR: The number of forcibly displaced people fell for the first time in a decade, from 123.2 million in 2024 to 117.8 million in 2025 (including 41.6 million refugees and 68.7 million internally displaced), according to UNHCR’s annual Global Trends Report. The dip is due to an increase in returns. However, many of those going back to their homes did so under pressure and went to places that are still unstable – over 90% of refugee returns were to Afghanistan, Syria, and Sudan. The Global Report 2025 and Global Trends 2025 are now available online.

“By the end of the year, 17.6 million forcibly displaced and stateless people were hosted across the (Asia Pacific) region. As needs rose and resources shrank, UNHCR was forced to prioritize the most critical life-saving interventions, limiting the scope of protection and assistance.”

 

Building on the momentum of the Refugee-Led Organisation (RLO) Learning Exchange held in Bogotá in October 2025, refugee- and migrant-led organisations shared insights from self-reliance learning projects conducted across four Colombian contexts. RSLI - Drawing on mixed-methods evidence, presenters explored how mutual aid, community participation, social networks, refugee leadership, and municipal-level governance can strengthen self-reliance and support positive outcomes for displaced communities in Colombia. WATCH THE RECORDING.
 

UNHCR & World Bank Group hosted 4th JDC Research Conference on Forced Displacement - June 4-6, 2026 - Bangkok, Thailand. Agenda & Links to presentations can be accessed, and video recordings on YouTube. 

 

Launch event of Global Refugee Youth Network report: Financing Refugee Youth Leadership. The report builds on the policy guide and shares findings from youth-led action research, with practical recommendations on how donors, humanitarian actors, and partners can better fund and support Refugee Youth-Led Organizations, including young refugee women leaders.

 

A new publication resulting from the “Protecting Refugees in Asia” (PRiA) project funded by DG ECHO: a Briefing Note Exploring Intra-Regional Complementary Pathways for Refugees in South and Southeast Asia (June 2026)

This publication explores the potential of expanding complementary pathways for refugees, focusing in particular on intra-regional options within South and Southeast Asia and qualifications/skills-based pathways. Informed by a detailed desk review and 15 key informant interviews conducted between February and April 2026, this briefing note argues that, with attention to protection needs, intra-regional complementary pathways may offer a scalable mechanism for States in South and Southeast Asia to respond to the challenges of forced displacement and deliver sustained benefits to refugees and host communities. Following a discussion of the potential contribution and current obstacles to expanding such pathways, this briefing note provides targeted policy recommendations for government, donors, international agencies, and other humanitarian stakeholders in the region to realize the full potential of intra-regional complementary pathways through the adoption of a protection-first approach.

This publication is available on the ADSP website.

 

Fortress Europe: the new pact on migration and asylum will further deteriorate chances for LGBTQ+ refugees.

 

Uncertain Futures and Restricted Movement: Afghan Refugees in Tajikistan.

 

What is migration for? How national needs wrestle with a basic human desire. 

 

When racism is so entrenched in Australia, could paying lip service to multiculturalism do more harm than good?

 

At my friend’s citizenship ceremony, I was moved by the quiet pride in the faces of new Australians.

 

Australia’s long history of externalisation.

 

Symposium on the 1951 Refugee Convention at 75: The 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol – Relevance and a Continuing Foundation for Protection?

 

APRRN/Members’ Job Vacancies

Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) is recruiting new staff in Bangkok (national position) to support our work for a wide range of tasks, mainly focused on our Afghan displacement. Tasks and responsibilities will include supporting learning and knowledge dissemination events; helping with ADSP’s convening and coordination role; contributing to ADSP training activities; and ensuring all activities are conducted in compliance with donor and DRC regulations. This is a role for someone with previous experience of project implementation, and a solid understanding of displacement and solutions dynamics, and of related humanitarian and development programming in the region.

Deadline for application is 28 July, 2026, 23:59 Bangkok Time.

Further information about the position and the recruitment process is available here:

DRC Website: ADSP Specialist | Danish Refugee Council

Relief Web: https://reliefweb.int/node/4220496

 

Funding opportunities

Australia Awards Fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region. Australian organisations can apply for funding (up to AUD $34,500 per Fellow) to host and support a range of professional development activities, including: work attachment; supervised research; a management or leadership course; a study tour; program meetings and visits, or a combination of these.

 

CFPs: Women's Scholarship for International Students 2026

Deadline: Aug 28, 2026

Donor: educations.com

Grant Type: Scholarship

Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Students, Women and Girls, Women & Gender

Applicants are now invited to submit applications for the Women's Scholarship to award female students at all higher study levels.

 

Small Grants Program, Mérieux Foundation. 

The Mérieux Foundation’s Small Grants Program supports local, community-rooted initiatives combating infectious diseases in vulnerable populations, especially mothers and children. Grants fund implementation-ready projects that are aligned with local priorities, integrated with existing health efforts, and led by organisations embedded in the target communities. Applicants must demonstrate a long-term commitment to public health and adhere to the ethical principles outlined in the Foundation’s charter.

• Geographies: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, 
• Who can apply: Local nonprofit organisations registered for ≥3 years; student groups and international NGOs are not eligible.
• Funding amount: Up to EUR €5,000 per project; overall project budget may not exceed €50,000.
• Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: maternal & child health, community-based infectious disease response, gender equity.
• Deadline: Two rounds yearly, March 1, 2026, and August 1, 2026.
• Learn more and apply here.

 

In July 2026, the lululemon Gives Community Wellbeing Grant will open a call for funding to community-led organisations around the globe that are advancing wellbeing through movement and mindfulness. Interested organisations can apply for up to $50,000 USD, which should not exceed 40% of their most recently completed fiscal year’s operating budget.

 

The AVPN opportunity - Asia-based Philanthropy:

The Fund aims to strengthen partnerships across the philanthropic, private, public and people sectors to collaborate, share and mobilise resources to strengthen the Harmony in Diversity ecosystem. It will empower community-based organisations driving harmony initiatives to foster and sustain long-term positive change. 

Funding amount: between USD 50,000 to USD 200,000 over a funding period of approximately 2 years till September 2028. 

 

Shadowing Programme for Young Theatre Professionals from Abroad

Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000

Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Hong Kong India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam,

Area: Arts & Culture, Theatre, Artists, Youth & Adolescents

The Shadowing Programme has launched its applications to support international artists within the field of Performing Arts an internship for a stay in Germany at a theatre or production house. Deadline: Dec 31, 2026

 

GCSP Prize for Innovation 2026

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Individuals, Innovation, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Research

The GCSP Prize for Innovation celebrates outstanding and innovative contributions across disciplines to support impactful solutions in global security and peace.

Deadline: Sep 23, 2026

 

3rd Call for ReCIPE Big Research Grant Program

Grant Size: $100,000 to $500,000

Area: Democracy & Good Governance, Economic Development, Climate Change, Natural Resources, Researchers, Students, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Research

The ReCIPE Big Research Grant Program offers third-call Big Research Grants to support research that deepens understanding of the relationship between conflict, economic growth and public policy.

Deadline: Aug 11, 2026

 

Open Call: Glocal Teen Hero Program Nepal 2026

Countries/Regions: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Area: Individuals, Innovation, Leadership, Media, Youth & Adolescents

The Glocal Teen Hero Nepal has launched its applications to celebrate exceptional teenagers who are creating impact beyond academics through leadership, innovation, creativity and social contribution.

 Deadline: Jul 25, 2026

 

Open Call for Equity Initiative Fellowship Program

Countries/Regions: Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Area: Health, Social Justice, Leaders, Leadership

The Equity Initiative Fellowship Program is accepting applications to cultivate leaders committed to advancing health equity across Southeast Asia and China. Deadline: Aug 01, 2026

 

UPCWGS Research Grant Program (Philippines)

Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000

Countries/Regions: Philippines

Area: Leaders, Researchers, Innovation, Research, Women & Gender

The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies is accepting proposals for the UPCWGS Research Grant to support innovative research on women and gender in the Philippines. Deadline: Jul 31, 2026

 

Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Domestic Grants for Democracy and Human Rights (Taiwan)

Area: Democracy & Good Governance, Education, Human Rights, Individuals, Research

The Domestic Grants Program is now accepting applications to support initiatives that promote democracy, human rights, research, and international engagement in Taiwan.

Deadline: Aug 15, 2026

 

The Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar Awards (formerly the Harry Frank Guggenheim Research Grants.

The Foundation welcomes proposals from any of the natural and social sciences and allied disciplines that promise to increase understanding of the causes, manifestations, and control of violence and aggression. Highest priority is given to research that addresses urgent, present-day problems of violence—what produces it, how it operates, and what prevents or reduces it. 

The Foundation supports research that investigates the basic mechanisms in the production of violence, but primacy is given to proposals that make a compelling case for the relevance of potential findings for policies intended to reduce these ills. Likewise, historical research is considered to the extent that it is relevant to the current situation of violence. Examinations of the effects of violence are welcome insofar as a strong case is made that these outcomes may serve, in turn, as causes of future violence.

Most awards fall within the range of $15,000 and $75,000 per year for periods of one or two years. The application process will open on July 1, 2026. The first component of the process is a Letter of Interest (LOI) questionnaire, which must be completed online and submitted by July 31, 2026, at 11:59.00 p.m. ET. Approved applicants will be invited to submit a full application, which is due by September 11, 2026, at 11:59.00 p.m. ET. Letters of Reference will also be due by September 11, 2026, at 11:59.00 p.m. ET. Late submissions will not be reviewed.

 

SIDA Call for Proposal: Initiatives to Counteract Irregular Migration (Afghanistan and Uzbekistan)

Proposals to Sida should address one or more of the following three areas:

i)  Strengthening asylum and migration management through institutional capacity-building.

ii) Strengthening border management.

iii) Counteracting migrant smuggling.

DEADLINE: July 31st 2026, 12.00 CEST.