Levon Sevunts

Communications officer with @UNHCRCanada, former @CBCNews and @RCInet journalist. Wannabe Arctic explorer and potter.

[Levon Sevunts @LevonSevunts]

A deeply touching reflection from @Refugees High Commissioner @BarhamSalih after visiting Syria's infamous Saydnaya prison.
Having survived imprisonment under Saddam Hussein's regime, he brings a uniquely personal perspective 👇

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

At the notorious Saydnaya prison, a symbol of the atrocities inflicted on Syrians, the cruelty is unspeakable. Syria’s future must ensure such horrors never happen again, and be built on peace, coexistence, dignity and prosperity for all.

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

Humanitarian work has never been easy.

Today, as needs grow and resources shrink, our colleagues continue to stand with people forced to flee in difficult and dangerous circumstances.

To every UNHCR colleague: thank you. Those who come to help should never be targets.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

240,000 of the most vulnerable refugees in South Sudan could lose food assistance as soon as the end of September due to funding cuts.

As millions across the country face severe hunger, refugees are being pushed to the brink.

Urgent support is needed.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

75 years on, the Refugee Convention remains as relevant as ever.

Protecting refugees and maintaining secure, orderly asylum systems go hand in hand.

Read the latest from High Commissioner @BarhamSalih in @TheEconomist on why both matter.

https://t.co/YvuSTxKP6U

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

Today, we remember the victims of the Yazidi genocide and honour the resilience of survivors.

As @NadiaMuradBasee reminds us, the promise of protection is more than words on paper.

It is a lifeline for people forced to flee persecution and a promise we must continue to keep.

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

In Geneva, where the Refugee Convention was signed 75 years ago, we renewed its promise today.

Faith leaders, Nobel laureates, athletes, artists, businesses, refugee advocates and many others shared one message: protecting people forced to flee is a responsibility we all share.

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

Keeping the promise of the Refugee Convention is not UNHCR’s responsibility alone. It belongs to all of us.

Proud to launch #ThePromise, bringing together voices to mark the Convention’s 75th anniversary and reaffirm our shared commitment to protect refugees and the right to seek safety.

[Levon Sevunts @LevonSevunts]

If verified, this tragedy would add to the nearly 300 people reported to be missing or to have lost their lives in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal so far this year.

In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in these dangerous sea journeys.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

More than 500 people are feared to have been aboard two boats that reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar.

Most were Rohingya passengers risking dangerous sea journeys in search of safety. We and IOM are deeply concerned by these reports and call for stronger efforts to save lives.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

When the monsoon rains come, life in the Rohingya refugee camps can become impossible.

Shelters fill with water. Families lose what little they have. Children cannot sleep. Parents cannot cook. Entire communities are left waiting for the floodwaters to recede.

In the camps near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Abdullah is showing the reality his community faces today.

Our thoughts are with the families affected by the devastating floods and landslides. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but humanitarian needs remain immense at a time when funding cuts are threatening lifesaving assistance.

The world cannot look away.

Video footage: Abdullah Habib

[UNHCR Afghanistan @UNHCRAfg]

High Commissioner @BarhamSalih spent the day engaging key partners to the returnee response in Kabul, including the media, diplomatic corps, and NGO community. We are grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to working alongside Afghan refugee returnee communities.

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

6 million Afghans have returned since 2023. Humanitarian aid is essential, but it is not enough. Returnees need protection, livelihoods & opportunities. That is why our joint mission with @alexanderdecroo matters: lasting solutions require @Refugees and @UNDP working side by side

[Barham Salih @BarhamSalih]

Afghanistan is at a critical moment.
More than 6 million Afghans have returned since 2023, placing immense pressure on communities already struggling with humanitarian and development challenges.
I am here with UNDP Administrator @alexanderdecroo, meeting returnees, host communities, women and girls, and witnessing firsthand both the challenges and the resilience of the Afghan people.
Rebuilding Afghanistan’s future requires stability, inclusion and the contributions of all its people. Expanding opportunities for women and girls is not only a matter of rights—it is essential for stability, prosperity and resilience. It is also one of the strongest safeguards against poverty, exclusion and extremism.
The international community must not look away. Humanitarian aid remains indispensable, but it is not enough. We must also invest in protection, livelihoods, basic services and opportunities that help returnees rebuild their lives, strengthen communities, and contribute to a more stable and hopeful future for Afghanistan.

[Dominique Isabelle Hyde @DominiqueHyde]

I am angry.

In Busuma, 54,000+ refugees, mostly women and children, are surviving with too little food, water & shelter.

They are not able to meet their basic needs.

The capacity to fix this exists. What’s missing is the will. That is unacceptable, and it is on all of us.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

The response continues.

New humanitarian supplies are already arriving in Venezuela to strengthen assistance to families affected by the earthquakes.

We continue to work alongside partner organizations and authorities, guided by humanitarian principles, to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most.

Thank you to everyone who has made this response possible and continues to offer their support. https://t.co/qqlyw8otv6

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

A UNHCR truck was hit by a drone in Sudan for the second time this year.

The driver escaped. But 50 tonnes of lifesaving aid – blankets, sleeping mats, solar lamps meant for displaced families is destroyed.

Humanitarians are not a target. Humanitarian aid is not a target.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

UNHCR is on the ground co-leading the emergency shelter response in Venezuela.

As the death toll rises, needs are skyrocketing.

We are there coordinating with authorities and local partners to respond to those who need it most.

Help us do more: https://t.co/4QgCK30Zyw

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

Two powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela, destroying buildings and damaging infrastructure across several states.

UNHCR is on the ground with authorities, partners, and communities to assess needs and respond.

Donate today. https://t.co/4QgCK31xo4

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

Thousands of people in Venezuela have been affected by devastating earthquakes.

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador @ponchohd shares why support is urgently needed for families who have lost so much.

[UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency @Refugees]

We are scrambling staff and resources to respond to the effects of the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela late Wednesday, causing widespread destruction and leaving thousands in urgent need of assistance.

Please donate today. https://t.co/HdQx9xaebJ

[Levon Sevunts @LevonSevunts]

RT @Refugees: Devastating earthquakes in Venezuela have left thousands at risk and in need of urgent support.

Two powerful earthquakes hav…