Our agency is known by several names. Offically we are the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Less formal than this is the UN refugee agency.

The Office of UNHCR was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1950, to provide protection and assistance to refugees.

Today, UNHCR is one of the world's principal humanitarian agencies, its staff of 6,540 personnel helping 32.8 million people “of concern” to UNHCR in 116 countries. During its half century of work, the agency provided assistance to more than 50 million people, earning two Nobel Peace Prizes in 1954 and 1981.

International protection is the cornerstone of the agency's work. In practice this means ensuring respect for a refugee's basic human rights and ensuring that no person will be returned involuntarily to a country where he or she has reason to fear persecution.

The organization seeks long-term or “durable” solutions by helping refugees:

• Repatriate to their homeland if conditions are suitable
• Helping them to integrate in their countries of asylum
• Resettle in third countries