Regional Emergency Appeals - UNHCR 2013

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on December 14 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The Agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action for the protection of refugees and resolution of refugee problems worldwide. The Agency is working to protect and assist refugees internally displaced persons and those who are stateless while searching for lasting solutions to their plight. Main activities include: providing shelter clothing and other essential non-food items to people of concern; providing adequate sanitation services; working with governments to register asylum seekers and refugees and to help issue identity documents; working to uphold the social and economic standing of persons of concern; and working with governments to support refugee self-reliance and forge peaceful relations between refugees and local citizens. With CIDA support UNHCR's 2013 operations in Asia Central Africa Latin America the Middle East and West Africa are providing protection and assistance to 14.9 million displaced people affected by conflict.

Expected outputs include: protection and basic assistance is provided to vulnerable displaced people/refugees; targeted displaced and refugee children under 12 months are provided with birth certificates; populations of concern to UNHCR are registered on an individual basis; survivors of sexual violence are provided with assistance and legal and psycho-social support; vulnerable refugees are transported to established camps; national law and policy relating to refugees and internally displaced persons are improved; out-of-school children and adolescents participate in formal and non-formal education programmes; and the creation of an environment conducive to the voluntary return of refugees is supported. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected displaced people especially women and children.