Frequently Ask Questions

Where Should i contact UNHCR in Pakistan?

Please Click Here For Complete Addresses of UNHCR Offices in Pakistan

What is UNHCR?

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN Refugee Agency, with a specific mandate to help protect refugees and help solve refugee problems worldwide.

Established in 1951, over the past five decades the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. Today, UNHCR has around 6,540 staff in 116 countries helping some 19 million people.

UNHCR’s most important responsibility, known as ‘international protection’, is to ensure respect for the basic human rights of refugees including their ability to seek asylum and to ensure that no one is returned involuntarily to a country where he or she has reason to fear persecution.

UNHCR promotes international refugee agreements, monitors government compliance with international law and provides material assistance such as food, water, shelter and medical care to fleeing civilians. UNHCR also seeks durable solutions for refugees whether through voluntary repatriation, integration into country of first asylum, or resettlement to a third country.

How many refugees are there today?

There are about 19.2 million people of concern to UNHCR today. Of these 9.2 million are refugees as defined by the Refugee Convention or those given prima facie recognition as part of mass influxes.

The remaining 10 million of concern to UNHCR are made up of:

• About 5.6 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who flee from their homes for the same reasons as refugees but who remain within their own country. This figure represents only a portion of the estimated 25 million IDPs worldwide who are not specifically covered by the Refugee Convention.

• About 1.5 million returnees – refugees who have voluntarily returned to their countries of origin but who remain of concern to UNHCR because we monitor their reintegration and provide assistance.

• About 839,200 asylum seekers, people who are seeking to be recognised as refugees but are still in the determination process.

• About 2 million others, including stateless people

How is UNHCR funded?

UNHCR is almost entirely funded by direct, voluntary contributions from governments (94 percent of total contributions) and other donors such as corporations, trusts and individuals. There is also a very limited subsidy from the regular budget of the United Nations, which is used exclusively for administrative costs.

For further informations on donors to UNHCR click here

Who is a refugee?

A refugee is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…"

Article 1, The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

How are refugees protected?

Governments normally guarantee the basic human rights and physical security of their citizens. But when civilians become refugees this safety net disappears. UNHCR's main role in pursuing international protection is to ensure that states are aware of, and act on, their obligations to protect refugees and persons seeking asylum. However, it is not a supranational organization and cannot be considered as a substitute for government responsibility. Countries may not forcibly return refugees to a territory where they face danger or discriminate between groups of refugees.

What are the obligations of a refugee?

Refugees are required to respect the laws and regulations of their country of asylum.

Do I need to pay for the services of UNHCR?

No, UNHCR offers its services to refugees / persons of concern free of charge

More FAQs

Protecting Refugees : Questions and Answers