UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Anniversary Celebration at MuseumsQuartier: 30 Years of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights

The Austrian Foreign Ministry, together with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is organizing a series of high-profile events in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier to mark the 30th anniversary of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights. The events are intended to draw attention to the importance of human rights in times of global crises and to make it clear that they are the cornerstone of democracy, peace, and justice.

June 4, 2023

Austria Gives 3 Million Euros as Humanitarian Aid to Lebanon

The Austrian government will increase its humanitarian and financial aid to Lebanon since the country in the Middle East is going through a severe economic crisis and at the same time is harboring a high number of refugees. The aid will go through UNHCR, CERF and the NGO Geneva Call.

December 27, 2022

Austria Gives 8 Million Euros to Syria and Jordan

The Syrian conflict, which has been going on for more than 10 years, has led to one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises. The precarious situation on the ground and in neighboring Jordan, where many Syrian refugees are, is worsening and a political solution to the conflict is not in sight. Austria's humanitarian aid on the ground is helping to prevent illegal migration to Europe, the government said.

November 30, 2022

Austrian Appointed as New UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

The new Human Rights High Commissioner for the UN is Austrian lawyer Volker Türk. On the proposal of Secretary-General Guterres, the 57-year-old was appointed to succeed the previous Commissioner Bachelet by the United Nations General Assembly. Türk had previously served as Assistant Secretary-General.

September 9, 2022

What Happens to Russian Refugees Coming to Austria?

The war in Ukraine did not only trigger a flight movement in the country under attack. A flight of smaller proportions is also noticeable from Russia. Read here at Vindobona how many Russians have applied for asylum in Austria and what their reasons for fleeing are.

August 17, 2022

Integration Ministers Discuss Refugees from Ukraine

The integration ministers of the European Union met for the "European Integration Conference" at Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. The EU ministers and state secretaries for integration were invited, as well as international organizations that work on migration issues.

July 31, 2022

Afghanistan Receives Humanitarian Aid from Austria

Aid organizations in Afghanistan and the surrounding region will receive seven million euros from the Foreign Disaster Fund (AKF) to alleviate the acute humanitarian emergency of Afghan civilians. In this way, internally displaced persons and Afghan refugees will receive effective assistance close to home, thereby preventing cross-regional migration to Europe.

July 6, 2022

Weekly Briefing: Newest Developments in Diplomacy and Vienna

Read about the newest developments in Diplomacy in Vienna and Austria. Further, Austria is strengthening its efforts in aiding Ukraine, international politics and local grievances. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visited Iran. The Find out more about this week's developments.

June 23, 2022

World Refugee Day Raises Awareness of the Right on Protection

Every year on 20 June, World Refugee Day takes place to draw attention to flight and displacement. This year, the focus is on the staggering number of over 100 million displaced people worldwide - the highest number ever recorded according to UNHCR. In addition to famine and natural disasters, the war in Ukraine is primarily responsible for this high number this year, as many people have had to leave their homes to escape the violence.

June 20, 2022

Meeting of UN Officials in Vienna: What Is the Chief Executives Board of Coordination

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the senior management of UN agencies are currently meeting in Vienna. The main reason for the meeting is the Chief Executives Board of Coordination, the highest coordination body of the United Nations. Read more about this important event.

May 12, 2022

Further Funding of Integration Projects for Ukrainians in Austria

The Austrian government recently initiated a special call for project proposals. The aim is to facilitate the integration of Ukrainian displaced persons in Austria and to give them access to social life. The projects are financed with funds from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Federal Chancellery.

May 11, 2022

How the European Union Is Providing Humanitarian Help to Ukraine

In Ukraine, the war has been raging for about two months now. The situation for people in Ukraine is miserable and the constant fighting makes normal life impossible. The European Union also provides humanitarian support to Ukraine. Read more about the EU's humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

April 28, 2022

Women Refugees From Ukraine Particularly At Risk

The war in Ukraine is already in its ninth week. The Russian invasion caused many people to leave the country, especially women and children. These groups are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by criminal structures and others with malicious intentions.

April 25, 2022

Ukraine: IOM and the Austrian Ministry of the Interior Launch Joint Project for War-Displaced Persons

A joint project of the International Organization for Migration and the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, aims to help Ukrainian protection seekers with numerous assistance offers. The project will run with 400,000 euros until the end of August and can be extended if necessary.

April 25, 2022

How the Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis Affects Life in Vienna

The humanitarian crisis created by Russia's brutal war in Ukraine can now be felt in Vienna. Read how the crisis is affecting life in Vienna.

April 25, 2022

War Crimes in Ukraine: Austria Supports International Criminal Court

In order to help uncover the war crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, the state of Austria is providing the International Criminal Court with a sum of 100,000 euros. The sum will be used, among other things, to collect, analyze and process evidence to document the crimes committed.

April 22, 2022

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Urged the Security Council to Stop the War in Ukraine

The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements called on the United Nations Security Council to put aside its differences and find a solution to end the war in Ukraine. There have already been 5 million people who have fled Ukraine, and there are another 7 million internally displaced.

April 21, 2022

Ukraine's Displaced Children: 70,000 Have Already Crossed into Austria

The war in Ukraine is causing inhuman suffering and despair - especially among children. More than half of the Ukrainian children are considered displaced and many of them also found their way to Austria. If you want to learn more details about the current challenges, please read on.

March 25, 2022

The Battle For Mariupol: Why Does It Matter to Putin?

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the military tactics are ravaging Ukraine. The Russian troops besiege Mariupol and are causing a humanitarian crisis. Mariupol is key for the Russian invasion and the advancing Russian military wants to seize the city at all costs.

March 23, 2022

Russo-Ukrainian War: To Date, 14,500 Refugees Have Registered in Austria

The terrible war in Ukraine has provided an uninterrupted stream of people seeking refuge in recent weeks. Austrian authorities are doing their best to help. Now the Austrian Ministry of the Interior has published new figures.

March 21, 2022

Ukrainian Ambassador in Vienna: "We need humanitarian assistance"

The war in Ukraine has been going on for several weeks and the humanitarian crisis is a new challenge for Europe. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets, met with the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, and Provincial Councilor Martin Eichtinger for talks at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. The discussion focused on Russia's violations of human rights and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

March 17, 2022

How Austria Is Supporting Ukrainian Refugees: Right of Residence and Relief Supplies

In Europe, an ever-increasing migration movement from Ukraine is becoming noticeable. The government of Austria decided to take several measures to help the fleeing people of Ukraine. Learn more about Austria's assistance.

March 16, 2022

UNHCR: One Million Refugees Have Fled Ukraine in a Week

In just seven days, one million people have fled Ukraine, uprooted by this senseless war.

March 3, 2022

Attack on Ukraine: Austria Extends Aid from Foreign Disaster Fund to a Total of 17.5 Million Euros

The Austrian government has approved another 15 million euros in humanitarian aid for Ukraine from the Foreign Disaster Fund. Read about how the money will be allocated and the daunting projections that suggest Ukraine will almost certainly need more foreign aid.

March 1, 2022

The Formation of an Anti-Trafficking Alliance in the Framework of the Joint Coordination Platform

Interior Minister Karner recently hosted the Return Ministerial Conference in Vienna to discuss European migration issues. Read about the conference and the formation of an Anti-trafficking alliance.

February 22, 2022

After the African Union Summit: Austria Provides €5 Million in Total to Alleviate Migration Pressure

Following the 6th European Union - African Union Summit, Austria announced that it would provide € 5 million in humanitarian aid to Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Tunisia. Read about Austria's efforts to alleviate some of the migration pressure caused by conflicts in Africa.

February 18, 2022

United Nations: Guterres Appoints Volker Türk of Austria Under-Secretary-General for Policy in His Executive Office

Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Austrian lawyer and UN official as Under-Secretary-General for Policy in his Executive Office.

January 26, 2022

Covid in Austria: The Situation Among Refugees and People With Migrant Backgrounds

As the World Health Organization is reporting vaccine inequity for migrants in national vaccine rollouts around the world, Austria is attempting to vaccinate its migrant population by offering vaccinations at the integration centers throughout the country. Read about how this is going.

December 22, 2021

Additional Millions for the Fight Against Terrorism, Armed Conflict, and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Austrian government has decided to provide millions of euros to help Tunisia, Libya, Palestine, and Jordan deal with the humanitarian crises they are facing. Read how this aid will be allocated and why Austria believes it is necessary.

December 3, 2021

Long Day of Escape: UNHCR Event in Austria on Refuge, Human Rights and Coexistence

Escape, human rights and peaceful coexistence are the focus of the UNHCR event series "Long Day of Escape", which took place for the 10th time this year.

October 1, 2021

Austrian Development Agency: An Additional 2 Million Euros for Afghanistan

At the United Nations donor conference for the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the Austrian Minister for Integration and Women's Affairs Susanne Raab announced that Austria will provide an additional 2 million euros in aid to Afghanistan. The aid is being made available through funds from the Austrian Development Aid Cooperation of the Austrian Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Austrian Foreign Ministry. The conference resulted in pledges of nearly double the amount of money that the UN had set as its goal.

September 16, 2021

Aid Package for Afghanistan Approved by Austrian Federal Government

The Austrian Federal Government has officially approved 18 million euros in emergency aid for Afghanistan that it had previously promised. The aid will go from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund (AKF) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, and the UN World Food Program.

September 9, 2021

Schallenberg on Afghanistan: "Clear advance of mistrust toward the Taliban"

The Gymnich Meeting of EU foreign ministers recently took place in Slovenia. One of the main issues discussed during the two days of meetings was the situation in Afghanistan and how to deal with the Taliban going forward. Alexander Schallenberg expressed that there is a deep mistrust of the Taliban, but technical cooperation with them is currently necessary. Read more about what Schallenberg said and watch the video of him taking questions from the press.

September 7, 2021

UNHCR Vienna Office: "Everyone has the right to citizenship"

The international community celebrated the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. On the anniversary, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that "everyone has the right to citizenship." UNHCR also warned about the many dangers stateless people face, including lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines, lack of economic relief from a government, and much more.

September 2, 2021

Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein in Vienna

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna for bilateral discussions. Some specific issues the pair discussed include Afghanistan, the security situation in Iraq and the Middle East, terrorism, and migration. Read about their meeting and watch their joint press conference.

September 1, 2021

Austrian Emergency Aid Package of 18 Million Euros for Afghan Women

Austria has announced that it will provide 15 million euros in emergency aid to help the people of Afghanistan. This is in addition to the 3 million euros that Austria already promised to donate to the UNHCR. The total of 18 million euros is intended to benefit, above all, organizations that campaign for the empowerment of women in the region, such as UN Women.

August 26, 2021

Schallenberg on Afghanistan: "Particularly close coordination between the EU partners is essential."

Before a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg commented on the escalating events surrounding the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. He stressed the necessity for cooperation among the EU member states to help deal with the situation.

August 20, 2021

Venezuela and Colombia Receive Support from Austria

In the midst of a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and Colombia, the Austrian government has decided to support the two Latin American countries and to additionally substantially increase the UNHCR funding. Read more below.

June 28, 2021

Austria Supports Syrian Refugees in Lebanon and Jordan

The Austrian government has decided to support Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon with EUR 1 million. The Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister are sure that by supporting Austrian NGOs, the aid will "be helping directly in the crisis regions of the Middle East".

November 11, 2020

Vienna Migration Agency Develops Recommendations for EU

Entitled "Breaking the gridlock and moving forward: Recommendations for the next five years of EU migration policy", participants of the Vienna Migration Conference 2019 will explore migration policy options and the formulation of future strategies.

October 11, 2019

Austrian Volker Türk Sworn In UN Deputy Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination

UN Secretary-General António Guterres swore in Austrian Volker Türk as Deputy Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination. The Australian Gillian Triggs succeeds him.

July 25, 2019

Global Compact for Migration: Top UN Refugee Agency Diplomat Volker Türk at the Kreisky Forum

Austria's top diplomat in the UNHCR, a United Nations Programme, the international law expert Dr. Volker Türk has made an appeal to governments, NGOs and individuals to rethink refugee protection and to implement the UN Global Compact for Refugees adopted in 2018.

June 6, 2019

Austrian Volker Türk Appointed Top UN Official

The Austrian lawyer and UN official Volker Türk was appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as one of his deputies with the title Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination.

April 19, 2019

Visit the United Nations Family in Vienna and Get to Know Its Members

Are you a committed citizen and want to learn how the United Nations works? Would you like to find out more about how the UN made its home in Vienna, one of the four global UN headquarters?

January 18, 2019

Vienna International Centre Celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2019

In 2019, the VIC Vienna International Centre (commonly known as UNO City) is celebrating its 40th anniversary. More than 4,000 employees from over 110 countries work here. Vienna is one of the four headquarters of the United Nations alongside New York, Geneva and Nairobi. Find out which 19 organisations the United Nations family in Vienna includes and what they do in Vienna.

January 18, 2019

Criticism of the Treatment of Refugees - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sends Team to Vienna

Next week, experts from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Vienna to gather an impression of the human rights situation. The new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, had criticised Austria for not prioritising the return of migrants from Europe without ensuring that key international human rights obligations are met as a protective measure.

October 11, 2018

The United Nations Celebrate 35 Years in Vienna

The United Nations moved into the VIC Vienna International Centre 35 years ago. The VIC was officially opened on 23 August 1979 when it was handed over to the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Commonly known locally as 'UNO City', it has been rented to the organizations for 99 years at a symbolic rate of 1 Austrian schilling (7 euro cents) annually.

August 11, 2014