History

 

UNHCR was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 319 A (IV) and began operations on 1 January 1951. Initially established as a temporary office, with a projected life span of three years, UNHCR’s mandate was then extended every five years to respond to the world’s growing refugee problems until 2003, when the General Assembly adopted a resolution that allowed for the continuation of the bureau “until the refugee problem is solved”.

 

 

UNHCR is one of the world’s principal humanitarian organizations, with 262 offices in 116 countries and a staff of 6,885 persons – 85% of whom work in field locations. At the beginning of 2005 there were 19.1 million refugees and others of concern who fell under the mandate of the bureau, which has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

 

Persons of concern

 

Refugees: 9.2 million

 

Asylum seekers: 840,000

 

Returnees: 1.5 million

 

Stateless persons: 1.5 million

 

Internally displaced persons: 5.4 million

 

Others of concern: 590,000

 

 

UNHCR's facts and figures

 



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