ECOWAS, Senegal and UNHCR Launch Joint Humanitarian Initiative to Support Refugees
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the Government of Senegal and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has officially launched a cooperation and humanitarian assistance initiative aimed at improving protection, livelihoods and social inclusion for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons in Senegal. The launch ceremony, held in Dakar, brought together senior Senegalese government officials, ECOWAS commissioners, UNHCR representatives, development partners and leaders of refugee communities. The initiative marks a major implementation milestone of a project conceived in 2023, at a time when global humanitarian funding is declining and refugee assistance worldwide is under severe strain. Delivering remarks on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, officials described the programme as a demonstration of regional solidarity and a reaffirmation of ECOWAS’ commitment to human dignity. They noted that West...