UNHCR, Why We Exist

Refugee families face impossible choices

There are over 122 million people in the world who have been forcibly displaced. Due to ongoing violence in countries like Ukraine and Sudan, that number continues to increase. 

No one chooses to be a refugee, but we can all choose to protect them.  
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When an emergency hits, UNHCR is one of the first on the ground providing life-saving support to those in need and we are one of the last to leave, after helping people build a better future. 

Our impact and reach is unmatched. We work in over 130 different countries supplying refugees and displaced people with shelter, food, education, clean water and the essentials they need to survive.

In 2023 we delivered 57,000 tents, 2.5 million blankets and 1.3 million sleeping mats to keep families safe.  

122+
million people displaced in the world
40%
of uprooted people in the world are children
75%
are hosted in low-and-middle-income countries
137
countries with a UNHCR presence
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Your support today is vital to ensure we’re able to continue to provide refugees and displaced people the support they need when they need it the most.

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What We Do

In a crisis, we’re the first to arrive and the last to leave

Emergency relief
People forced to flee their homes leave almost everything behind them in their search for safety and protection. UNHCR brings them the humanitarian response they need. 
Health and hygiene
Ensuring the health and hygiene of displaced persons is one of UNHCR's primary tasks.
Human rights protection
UNHCR works to ensure the rights of displaced people, refugees and stateless persons are respected. Wherever they are. 
Education
7.2 million refugee children did not go to school in 2023. UNHCR works to promote access to education among refugees and IDPs.
Nutrition
UNHCR works to ensure food security for those forced to flee their homes.
Latest News

Read our latest articles and testimonials

5 inspiring women to celebrate you didn’t know about
Inspiring women are all around us, making big or small differences. Discover five extraordinary women who are tirelessly advocating for their communities with passion and integrity, striving to create inclusivity, opportunities, and peace.
Standing with Refugees
Ukraine: Three years of war, stories of strength and hope
UNHCR continues to adapt its response to the unpredictable and volatile security landscape inside Ukraine – and the scale and pace of the emergency – blending emergency aid, protection, and long-term recovery efforts.
Emergency
Viktoria was forced to flee Ukraine: Her story
In 2022, Viktoria was forced to flee Odessa in Ukraine with her children and her disabled mother. They made their way to neighbouring Moldova and found shelter in a refugee centre in the capital Chisinau.
Echos from the field
The Ongoing Crisis in Syria: Updates from the Field
The crisis in Syria has now entered its 14th year and remains one of the largest displacement crises in the world, with millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria and in neighbouring countries.
Echos from the field
Millions of people protected with your support in 2024
In 2024, UNHCR faced numerous challenges, responding to 43 emergencies, including conflicts, climate disasters, and disease outbreaks. With 91% of its workforce in the field, UNHCR provided critical aid and protection to millions of displaced people.
Emergency
5 resolutions for a more peaceful year
The beginning of the year is always a time of great motivation, planning, and positive resolutions for the upcoming year. Discover 5 resolutions you can adopt for a more peaceful year.
In Switzerland
Stronger together
The year 2024 was extraordinarily challenging. The number of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution reached nearly 123 million by the end of June.
Echos from the field
Emergencies

When violence breaks out and disaster strikes, donor support allows UNHCR to move directly into action. 

Emergency Lebanon
The devastating attacks in Lebanon are claiming innocent lives and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes, including refugees in Lebanon. These people need urgent support.
Winter Emergency
This Winter, harsh temperatures affect millions of vulnerable people across the Middle East, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Crisis in Sudan
Since the start of the conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes.
The Syrian crisis
After 12 years of crisis, Syrians are still struggling to survive. More than half of the country’s population has fled since the beginning of the conflict. 
Ukraine Emergency
In Ukraine, the crisis has forced over 10 million people to flee their homes.
Horn of Africa emergency
The Horn of Africa region is experiencing the worst drought in over 40 years. Cattle are dehydrated and dying, crops are failing, leaving thousands of people with no choice but to flee their homes.
Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
More than four decades of conflict have displaced millions of Afghans. Today, the situation has reached a new critical point. UNHCR is on the ground to provide life-saving assistance to the internally displaced, and to refugees in neighbouring countries.
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