↝ Special responses
Special responses allow large numbers of people who may or may not meet the grounds for formal refugee status, to seek protection and, often, to travel to certain countries in a regulated manner.
Receiving countries – either individually or as part of a regional block – develop special pathways to protection in response to a humanitarian crisis and/or the danger of widespread human rights abuses.
These can involve a comprehensive range of provisions like evacuation flights, special visas, processing for asylum after arriving in the destination country, and/or support with housing, education and employment.
Examples of recent special responses include those responding to situations in Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Ukraine.
Spotlight
Description from Institute: Climate change and disasters are driving people from their homes and ways of life. The Kaldor Centre Climate Mobility Hub is about helping to understand, talk about and meet this challenge – including practical, legal responses such as climate migration, protection, planned relocation and staying in place – and it amplifies the voices of Pacific people facing the prospect of having to move. Explore the facts, solutions and voices of climate mobility in the Pacific and all over the world at the Kaldor Centre Climate Mobility Hub.
New resources
Updates on special responses
Information & data sources
Afghanistan
UNHCR/Global: Operational Data Portal Afghanistan Situation
UK: Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
Canada: #WelcomeAfghans
USA: Operations Allies Welcome
Germany: Federal admission programme for Afghanistan
FAQ: Assistance leaving Afghanistan
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Information for former Afghan local employees working for German development cooperation”
Brazil: Protection and Assistance of the Afghan Population in Brazil
Gaza
Ukraine
UNHCR/global: UNHCR, Operational Data Portal Ukraine Regional Situation
European Union: Ukraine crisis, Data and analysis
Response to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine
Eire / Ireland: Citizen Information Ireland, “Coming to Ireland from Ukraine”
United Kingdom: UK Government, “Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine Scheme”
Homes for Ukraine
USA: UCIS, “Uniting for Ukraine”
Department of Homeland Security, Designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status
Canada: “Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures”
Australia: Home Affairs Australia, “Ukraine visa support”
Israel: UNHCR, “Information for Ukrainians in Israel”
Brazil: New Visa for Ukrainian Nationals
Venezuela
Regional/R4V: Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugee and Migrants from Venezuela
Peru: UNHCR, Global Focus, “Peru Latest Updates”
ACAPS Peru Situation Response/Crisis Update
Ecuador: ACAPS Ecuador Situation Response/Crisis Update
UNHCR, “Ecuador: Alojamiento Temporal en Emrgencia Infografía 2022-Tercer Trimestre”
Colombia: UNHCR, Colombia | Response January – September 2022
ABC, Temporary Protection Status for Venezuelan Migrants
Brazil: UNHCR Brazil – September 2022 Factsheet
Central America and Mexico: Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugee and Migrants from Venezuela, “Central America and Mexico Two Pager”
Caribbean: Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugee and Migrants from Venezuela, “Caribbean Two Pager”
Southern Cone: Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugee and Migrants from Venezuela, “Southern Cone Two Pager”
U.S.A.: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Temporary Protected Status
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “Process for Venezuelans”