United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees facts for kids

"UNHCR" redirects here. It is not to be confused with UNHRC, the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Quick facts for kids Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Org type	United Nations Programme
Status	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a special agency of the United Nations. Its main job is to help and protect refugees, people forced to leave their homes, and people who don't have a country. UNHCR also helps these people return home safely, settle in their new country, or move to a different country.

UNHCR's main office is in Geneva, Switzerland. As of 2020, more than 18,879 staff work in 138 countries around the world.

What is UNHCR and Why Was it Created?

UNHCR was started in 1950. This was to help with the huge number of refugees after World War II. The 1951 Refugee Convention set out the rules for UNHCR's work. At first, it mainly helped Europeans who had lost their homes because of the war.

How UNHCR's Work Grew Over Time

In the late 1950s, more conflicts caused people to flee their homes. These included the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and countries in Africa and Asia becoming independent. This made UNHCR's work much bigger.

A new agreement in 1967, the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, expanded UNHCR's reach. It meant UNHCR could help refugees all over the world, not just in Europe. Most of its work then focused on developing countries. By 2015, UNHCR had helped over 50 million refugees worldwide.

How UNHCR is Funded

As of June 2020, UNHCR helps over 20 million refugees. Its budget has grown a lot, from $300,000 in 1951 to $8.6 billion in 2019. This makes it one of the largest UN agencies.

Most of UNHCR's money comes from donations. These donations are mostly from member countries. The biggest donors are the United States, the European Union, and Germany.

What Does UNHCR Do?

UNHCR's work includes:

Providing protection and safe places to stay.
Offering healthcare and emergency help.
Helping people resettle or return home.
Working with governments to create policies that help refugees.

Awards for UNHCR's Work

UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace Prizes, one in 1954 and another in 1981. It also received a Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation in 1991. UNHCR is part of the United Nations Development Group, which works for a better future for everyone.

A Brief History of UNHCR

The main office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva.

After World War II, many people were displaced. The United Nations created the International Refugee Organization (IRO) in 1947 to help them. Before that, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration was set up in 1944.

In the late 1940s, the IRO was no longer needed. But the UN agreed that a new group was needed to handle refugee issues worldwide. So, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was created in December 1949. It was first planned to only last for three years, starting in January 1951. Many UN countries disagreed about having a permanent refugee organization.

UNHCR's Growing Mission

UNHCR's original mission was set out in its rules in 1950. This mission has been expanded many times since then. UNHCR's goal is to offer international protection to refugees. It also aims to find lasting solutions for them, without taking political sides.

Soon after the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was signed in 1951, it became clear that refugees were not just in Europe. In 1956, UNHCR helped with the uprising in Hungary. A year later, it helped Chinese refugees in Hong Kong. It also responded to Algerian refugees who fled to Morocco and Tunisia. These events showed that UNHCR's work would be global.

Focus Shifts to Africa

In the 1960s, many African countries became independent. This led to large movements of refugees in Africa. This was a huge challenge for UNHCR. Unlike in Europe, it was harder to find lasting solutions in Africa. Many refugees found new problems in their new countries. By the end of the 1960s, two-thirds of UNHCR's budget was spent on operations in Africa. The organization's focus had changed from mainly Europe to worldwide.

In 1967, the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees was approved. This removed the limits on where and when UNHCR could help refugees. The 1951 Convention was only for refugees after World War II in Europe. The Protocol was made to help with "new refugee situations" that came up later.

Challenges in the 1970s and 1980s

In the 1970s, UNHCR's work spread even more. This included helping people fleeing East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to India. The Vietnam War also caused millions to flee Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The 1980s brought new problems. Many countries did not want to take in refugees because their numbers had grown so much. Often, these refugees were not fleeing wars between countries. Instead, they were fleeing conflicts between different groups within new independent nations. Civilians were often targeted in these conflicts. This meant even small conflicts could create many displaced people. Finding lasting solutions became a huge challenge for UNHCR. So, UNHCR became more involved in helping people inside refugee camps, often in difficult places.

After the Cold War

The end of the Cold War still led to conflicts between ethnic groups. This caused many more people to become refugees. Also, international forces started to get involved more often to help people. The media also played a big role, especially before the 1999 NATO mission in FR Yugoslavia. However, the 1994 Rwandan Genocide did not get much attention. The genocide in Rwanda caused a massive refugee crisis. This showed how hard it was for UNHCR to do its job. UNHCR also had to fight against strict refugee policies in wealthier nations.

A study in 2021 found that UNHCR has always helped refugees no matter where they are. The organization has not shown much favoritism towards countries that donate money when deciding where to use its funds.

How UNHCR Works to Help People

UNHCR packages with tents and mosquito nets in Dadaab, Kenya, after floods in 2006.

UNHCR was created on December 14, 1950. It took over from the earlier United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. UNHCR's job is to lead and organize international efforts to protect refugees. (Note: Palestinian refugees are helped by a different agency called UNRWA). UNHCR also works to solve refugee problems worldwide.

Its main goal is to protect the rights and well-being of refugees. It tries to make sure everyone can ask for asylum and find a safe place in another country. People then have the choice to return home voluntarily, settle in the new country, or move to a third country.

Helping People Displaced Within Their Own Country

UNHCR's mission has grown over time. It now also helps people called "persons of concern." This includes internally displaced persons (IDPs). These are people who would be considered refugees if they left their country. But they are still inside their own country.

UNHCR has major missions in places like Lebanon, South Sudan, Chad/Darfur, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kenya. It helps and provides services to IDPs and refugees in camps and cities.

Using Technology to Help Refugees

UNHCR keeps a database of refugee information called ProGres. It was created during the Kosovo War in the 1990s. Today, this database has information on over 11 million refugees. This is about 11% of all displaced people globally. The database includes fingerprints and iris scans. This information helps decide how to give out aid. Using these biometric checks has been very successful. For example, in Kenyan refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab in 2013, the UN World Food Programme saved $1.4 million by preventing waste and fraud.

To do its work, UNHCR holds meetings with experts. They discuss important issues for the international refugee community.

Raising Awareness for Refugees

A stamp from Tajikistan in 2001, celebrating UNHCR's 50th anniversary.

UNHCR has started new programs to support refugees and make people more aware of their challenges. These programs are part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

UNHCR works in different parts of the world to raise awareness about the refugee crisis. For example, since 2009, UNHCR has noticed many migrants and refugees in the Caribbean. This issue was not widely known. Many refugees try to seek asylum in the United States without applying through the U.N. first. They often fail and stay in the Caribbean. But some countries there did not have laws to protect asylum-seekers. So, UNHCR held talks in Costa Rica in 2009. They wanted to fix the lack of protection for refugees. They also wanted to stop them from being treated as illegal migrants.

In 2007, UNHCR offices in Canada started a media campaign. It aimed to show the difficult lives of refugees. The campaign used emotional stories to raise public awareness. It hoped to get the interest of "30 to 45-year-old professionals" who might not know much about refugee issues.

In Ireland, UNHCR uses different ways to inform the public. It works with the media and holds public events. One event is the annual UNHCR/SARI Fair play Football Cup.

UNHCR was very important in helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon. When the Lebanese government could not handle all the refugees, UNHCR stepped in. It helped ease their displacement by offering food and healthcare. They also helped register the refugees so they would not be seen as illegal by the Lebanese government. Many Syrian refugees are also in Jordan.

Working with Other UN Agencies

UNHCR works closely with many other programs and agencies within the United Nations. This helps them protect refugees' rights effectively.

On September 19, 2016, the UN General Assembly held a summit for refugees and migrants. The goal was to find a more humane and organized way to handle large movements of people. Leaders from other UN offices were there, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the World Bank. The summit discussed why people migrate and why global cooperation is needed. As a result, the UN created a draft of principles. These principles focus on human rights, fairness, rescue, justice, border control, and more.

On September 28, 2016, UNHCR worked with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Tehran. They worked on a plan for Afghan refugees. FAO offered help with farming, fishing, and nutrition projects in Iranian schools.

FAO and UNHCR want to help refugees find ways to earn a living. This reduces their need for aid. They recently launched a plan for South Sudan. It helps both refugees (70%) and local communities (30%) in areas where refugees live.

People UNHCR Helps

An aerial view of Zaatari refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan, July 2013.

In June 2015, UNHCR reported that a record 57,959,702 people needed its help. This number was less than half in 2007. The big increase was mainly due to the Syrian Civil War. Other conflicts in countries like Afghanistan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, and Ukraine also added to the numbers.

People who need UNHCR's help include:

Refugees and asylum-seekers.
People in situations similar to refugees.
Internally-displaced people (IDPs).
Stateless persons (people not considered citizens by any country).
Other people UNHCR is concerned about.

Who Leads UNHCR?

High Commissioner of the UNHCR

Incumbent Filippo Grandi since January 2016
High Commissioner for Refugees
Reports to	UN General Assembly
Appointer	UN General Assembly
Term length	5 years
Formation	1 January 1951; 74 years ago (1951-01-01)
First holder	Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart

As of 2023, UNHCR has over 18,879 staff working in 138 countries.

The High Commissioner

The United Nations General Assembly chooses the High Commissioner every five years. The High Commissioner is supported by a special committee. They must report to the UN General Assembly every year and follow its directions. The current High Commissioner is Filippo Grandi. He has been in this role since January 1, 2016. Before UNHCR was created, Fridtjof Nansen was the League of Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees.

Special Envoy and Goodwill Ambassadors

Angelina Jolie

After working as a Goodwill Ambassador for 10 years, Angelina Jolie became a Special Envoy to the High Commissioner in 2012. In this role, she represents UNHCR and High Commissioner Filippo Grandi at a high level. She works to find long-term solutions for people displaced by big crises, like those in Afghanistan and Somalia.

UNHCR also has many UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors. These are famous people who help raise awareness and support for refugees.

Images for kids

A refugee camp in Darfur, Chad.
A helicopter brings aid to a refugee facility in Macedonia.
Trucks carry supplies from Turkey into Iraq to help Kurdish refugees.
An UNHCR officer talks with a Marine during an exercise.
Workers from UNHCR and CARE International gather shelters and mosquito nets in Kenya.
Heavily protected UNHCR offices in Somaliland.
A UNHCR refugee camp at Baharka, Iraq.
A UNHCR Camp in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq, June 2014.
Children in a UNHCR Camp in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq, June 2014.
Inside a refugee camp in Northern Iraq.