With some parts of the country in lockdown, we understand these are challenging times and we hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.

In this month's newsletter, we provide an update on Afghanistan, which is on the brink of a major humanitarian and displacement crisis. Fighting is worsening in intensity and spreading in reach - this year, some 270,000 Afghans have been newly displaced inside the country and numbers are growing daily.

This week sees the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and for the second time in Olympic history, a team of refugee athletes are participating in the Games. This team of incredible Olympians and Paralympians will be striving for gold while bringing attention to the plight of refugees and displaced people.

While COVID-19 continues to affect everyone worldwide, we share an update on the pandemic and the work UNHCR and partners are doing to ensure displaced people are included in vaccination programs, as well as helping to alleviate some of the socio-economic affects for vulnerable individuals through cash assistance.

In Tigray, clashes between the regional government and Ethiopian federal forces which began in November 2020 have caused 1.7 million people to flee. In recent weeks, renewed fighting has put civilians at increased risk and over 350,000 people in Tigray are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. 

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who attended our World Refugee Day event last month, with your support we raised over $240,000! Our hybrid event had 330 guests attending at the Sheraton in Sydney and 180 people watching online. We announced the Australia for UNHCR - SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition and there were very few dry eyes at the event when we heard from refugee sporting stars, Asif Sultani, Akec Makur Chuot and Golgol Mebrahtu. You can view the panel discussion here.