Tag:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Government
Remaining Venezuelan nationals deemed inadmissible removed from the country
The remaining ten Venezuelan nationals, part of a larger group of travelers found inadmissible to enter the country on January 18th, finally left over the weekend. The travelers who arrived in Belize from Panama via COPA Airlines returned to Panama via TAG Airlines on Saturday, January 29th, after being cleared of COVID-19. Even though seven of these persons requested asylum through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Belize on Friday, January 28th, their request was denied.
Community and Society
The majority of inadmissible COPA passengers returned to Panama, some sought refugee status
A group of 35 Venezuelan nationals, a Moroccan, and one person from the Dominican Republic traveling from Panama on January 18th on a COPA Airlines flight were found inadmissible to enter Belize. Attempts to return them to their last point of embarkation- Panama saw difficulties. The process extended to Saturday, January 22nd, when 21 passengers were returned to Panama via COPA, while eight sought refugee status in Belize. Several of the remaining persons, including children, could not leave the country after testing positive for COVID-19. These persons will remain (detained) at a hotel in Belize city at the expense of COPA Airlines. They will be returned to Panama as soon as it is safe to travel.
Government
UNHCR trains journalists in the proper coverage of refugee stories
Hoping to increase media personnel’s knowledge on issues regarding asylum seekers and refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) hosted a workshop on Saturday, November 2nd, in Belize City. The all-day event taught journalists from across the country on properly reporting sensitive issues involving vulnerable persons to avoid causing harm or exposing them to danger. The seminar also covered the statistics of refugees in Belize, their origins, and a view of this global phenomenon.
Government
Belize attends High-Level Segment on Statelessness and 70th Session of the Executive Commission of the High Commissioner’s Programme
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Patrick Andrews headed Belize’s delegation to the High-Level Segment on Statelessness (HLS) and the 70th Session of the Executive Commission (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme.