UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

In more than five decades, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. Today, a staff of around 6,689 people in 116 countries continues to help 20.8 million persons.

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Palestinian refugees © Photo courtesy of and Paris Match/Thierry Esch The Palestinians at Al Tanf have survived since May 2006 on assistance provided by UNHCR, other UN agencies, the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.