The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the refugee agency of the United Nations. It was established in 1951 to provide protection and assistance to refugees. 

 

In Sri Lanka, UNHCR works to protect and assist people displaced by the conflict within the

country - internally displaced people (IDPs) - as well as those returning to their homes in the north and east. 

 

UNHCR is also assisting Sri Lankan refugees returning from India and a small number of the asylum-seekers and refugees from other countries.

 

  

* carries out regular monitoring in places of displacement, return and relocation                            

 

* provides assistance to Sri Lankan refugees who wish to return home from India or elsewhere

 

* distributes essential household items and other support to people returning home    

     

* provides shelter kits and assistance to repair homes in some return areas

 

* supports very vulnerable returnees  in need of specialized assistance

 

* provides legal counseling on housing, land and property documentation

 

* carries out capacity-building training activities

 

* implements small-scale projects involving communities

 

* helps find durable solutions through return, local integration and relocation of displaced families

 

 

*Refugees – persons who owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of

 

race

religion

nationality

membership of a particular social groups

political opinion.

 

is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to such    fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country.
 

*Asylum-Seeker – individuals who are seeking international protection

 

*Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) – people who have been been forced to flee from their homes but who have not crossed an internationally recognized state border

 

*IDP returnees - people who were forced to flee their homes due to conflict, and have subseuqently returned to ther villages

 

*Refugee returnees - Sri Lankan refugees returning home with the help of UNHCR

 

*Stateless people – people without nationality or citizenship

 

 

 

For more information please click on the latest Sri Lanka factsheet or visit the Sri Lanka page on the UNHCR Global Website.