About
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
UNHCR works to ensure that everyone who has fled violence, war, disaster or persecution at home has the right to seek asylum and find refuge.
We provide shelter, food, water, medical care and other life-saving assistance to refugees around the world.
The dream of most refugees is to return home. When possible, UNHCR helps refugees make this dream a reality. When refugees are unable to return home, we work to find solutions for them to rebuild their lives in another country. Since its formation by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1950, UNHCR has helped millions of refugees and displaced persons and has twice received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Today, UNHCR’s committed staff of over 18,000 people work in 137 countries protecting the lives of millions of refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people, and finding solutions to help them build better futures.
Our Impact
For decades, UNHCR has faced crises in many countries. We’ve provided life-saving assistance to asylum-seekers, refugees, internally displaced and stateless people. For millions forced from home, UNHCR is there to help protect their rights and build better futures. Our work at UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, with the option to eventually integrate return home or resettle.
Who we help:
We help millions of men, women and children around the world who have been displaced by violence, conflict, and prosecution worldwide.
Where we work:
We work in 137 countries, with personnel based in a mixture of regional and branch offices and sub and field offices.
What we do:
Our teams work to help displaced people, specializing in a wide range of disciplines, including legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs and health. We also provide critical assistance during times of displacement, including water, sanitation, shelter, blankets, cash assistance, transportation, distribution of food and more.
