Refugees are legally defined as people who are living outside of their countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, and who can not or do not want to return home.

UNHCR provides protection and assistance not only to refugees, but also to other categories of displaced or needy persons. These include:

• Asylum seekers
• Refugees who have returned home but still need help in rebuilding their lives
• Local civilian communities that are directly affected by the movements of refugees
• Stateless persons
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled home but remain in their own country