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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

UNHCR provides international protection and seeks permanent solutions to the situation of refugees.

Areas of work for UNHCR include:

  • Refugees from Bhutan: In co-operation with the National Unit for the Coordination of Refugee Affairs of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the UN refugee agency provides protection and assistance to over 107,000 refugees from Bhutan in seven camps in Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal, together with the UN World Food Programme and NGO partners.
  • Internally displaced persons
    UNHCR works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to form an overall protection framework for internally displaced persons, focusing on protection-driven interventions at the point of return and the promotion of dialogue and mediation to create an environment conducive to sustainable returns/ solutions for persons displaced as a result of conflict.
  • Tibetan new arrivals
    For those found to be of concern, UNHCR facilitates the safe transit of Tibetan new arrivals through Nepal to a third country. In addition, UNHCR ensures that the material and protection needs of the new arrivals are addressed.
  • Urban refugees and asylum seekers
    UNHCR also provides direct legal advice and protection and assistance to individuals found to be of concern from various other countries approaching the office. UNHCR in Nepal carries out refugee status determination (RSD) under its Mandate for these urban asylum-seekers. Monthly financial assistance, medical care through identified medical facilities and educational assistance is also provided for urban refugees.
  • Statelessness
    UNHCR is currently undertaking a comprehensive study on statelessness in Nepal which includes evaluating the new citizenship laws, assessing the recently concluded citizenship certificate distribution by the Home Ministry, and its impact on the concerned population. UNHCR aims to assist the Government in whatever manner possible in eliminating or reducing statelessness and ensuring that all Nepalese have access to a citizenship certificate.

UNHCR has representation in Kathmandu and a field office in Damak (for refugee camps in Jhapa and Morang districts) as well as a presence in Nepalgunj and Biratnagar for operations surrounding IDPs.

Type of Assistance and Programming
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 involuntarily returned to a country where he or she has reason to fear persecution.

UNHCR seeks durable solutions for refugees in three main areas. Voluntary repatriation to their original homes is the preferred solution for the bulk of the world's refugees. However, this is not always possible, and in those cases UNHCR assists refugees to try to rebuild their lives elsewhere - either in countries where they first sought asylum or in a third country willing to accept them.

UNHCR also provides assistance to refugees pending durable solutions, and supports efforts to provide protection and solutions for internally displaced persons, within the framework of a joint United Nations collaborative approach.