2015 Event Over 6,000 Syrian migrants arrive in Austria after being detained in Hungary in an effort to control the recent mass wave of refugees fleeing Syria and other war-torn nations; many of the migrants plan to seek asylum in Austria and Germany 2014 Event Pope Francis gives his annual Christmas address from the Vatican, praying for groups that included refugees and exiles, persecuted Christian communities, and workers fighting the Ebola epidemic 2014 Event Six men being detained in the U.S. Guantanamo Bay facility have been released to Uruguay; the men are considered refugees and will not have restrictions on their travel 2014 Event The U.N. World Food Program stops assistance to over 1.7 million Syrian refugees in the nations adjoining Syria; the program has provided over $800 million in aid but lacks funds to continue this support 2014 Event Polio is on the rise as unvaccinated refugees travel across borders; though most prevalent in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, infections are now appearing in other parts of Asia and Africa; young children are the most vulnerable 2012 Event According to Israel's military chief, the country is preparing for a increase of Syrian refugees into Golan Heights 2011 Event In western Ethiopia, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees opens new refugee camp for refugees from Sudan and South Sudan 2011 Event In efforts to avoid food shortages and political oppression, South Korea begins work on a new facility to house North Korean refugees 2011 Event South Korea states it plans to build a new resettlement center for North Korean refugees 1994 Event U.S. reopens Guantanamo Naval Base to process refugees 1992 Event President Bush orders Coast Guard to intercept boats with Haitian refugees 1991 Event U.S. begins air drops to Kurd refugees in Northern Iraq 1985 Event 16 indicted by U.S. for granting sanctuary to Central American refugees 1982 Event Seattle Baptist Church declares sanctuary for Central American refugees 1982 Event Massacre of 1000+ Palestinian refugees at Chatila and Sabra begins 1975 Birthday Angelina Jolie, born in Los Angeles, California, actress, Academy-Award winning movie, 'Girl, Interrupted', works with refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador 1965 Event Airlift of refugees from Cuba to U.S. began 1962 Event 28 refugees escape from East to West Germany 1950 Event U.N. General Assembly establishes High Commission for Refugees (Nobel 1954) 1941 Event Governor-General Wouters of Dutch Antilles refuses Jews refugees 1940 Event British liner Empress loaded with refugees for Canada, sunk 1940 Event Australia refuses entry to Dutch Jewish refugees 1940 Event Governor of Suriname and Netherlands Antilles refuse entry to Jewish refugees 1912 Birthday Abbe Pierre, born in Lyon, France, French Catholic priest, founded Emmaus movement aiding poor, homeless, refugees 1910 Birthday Dominique Pire, Belgium, educator, aided WW II refugees, Nobel 1958 1865 Event Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands established
