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“Refugees” or “Migrants”? How word choices affect rights and lives

EXPLAINER

“Refugees” or “Migrants”? How word choices affect rights and lives

Refugees walk on a highway, with the sea in the background

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Find information and services for refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons

Services for Refugees

Ongoing Situations

UNHCR’s operations in Asia and the Pacific encompass two of the world’s largest forced displacement crises:

Bangladesh. Bottled gas distribution benefits camp environment for refugees

Myanmar Situation

Violence against civilians and the intensified armed conflict following the events of February 2021 caused tens of thousands of refugees to flee to neighbouring countries and have displaced 2 million people within Myanmar.  

UNHCR has called for comprehensive and regional approaches to durable solutions for close to 1.1 million refugees from Myanmar, such as voluntary repatriation and resettlement. We focus on the responsive and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance, strengthening community-based protection and resilience

UNHCR's response, budget and funding

Data and Statistics

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Afghanistan. Displaced families cope with winter cold and food shortages Kabul.

Afghanistan Situation

Some 3 million people are internally displaced due to conflict in Afghanistan, and over 24 million are in need of vital humanitarian relief.  

UNHCR continues to deliver on its scaled-up response, focusing on the provision of cash assistance, core relief items and shelter. UNHCR also supports host governments and communities in their efforts to include Afghans in national services such as health and education. 
 

UNHCR's response, budget and funding

Data and Statistics

Support our work

Global Refugee Forum 2023

The Global Refugee Forum 2023 will take place from 13 to 15 December at the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, with linked events from 12 December onwards. Held every four years, the Forum is an opportunity for the international community to come together to find solutions, amplify impact and commit to sustained actions and support for refugees and their host countries.

Read the story

Learn more about the Global Refugee Forum

Key facts and figures

Refugees by country of origin in Asia-Pacific | 2022

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2022 Regional Trends report

The Asia & the Pacific Regional Trends report for 2022 provides an overview of forced displacement and statelessness in the region up to the end of the year. Presenting an in-depth look into the Asia-Pacific region, it follows on from the release of UNHCR’s flagship Global Trends report.

Download the Asia Pacific Regional Trends report 2022

Download the Global Trends report 2022 

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UNHCR helps to save lives and build better futures for the millions of people forced to flee their homes.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home.

Since 1950, we have faced multiple crises on multiple continents, and provided vital assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people, many of whom have nobody left to turn to.

We help to save lives and build better futures for millions forced from home.

Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands affected by earthquakes in Herat province

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Refugee Voices

Through first-person narratives, refugees from across Asia and the Pacific share their experiences, perspectives and aspirations as people forced to flee.

Discover The Refugee Voices series

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What's happening around UNHCR

Our primary purpose at UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee and those denied a nationality.
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Browse the MADE51 shop for beautiful hand-made pieces produced by refugees.