UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Published purpose

March 2014 - Armed conflict and insecurity continue to affect West Africa, where countries host a total of over 1 million refugees and count significant numbers of internally displaced persons. In 2013, refugees from Mali and Northern Nigeria who were facing violence and other human rights violations fled to Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Cameroon. Recent conflicts in central and eastern Africa, particularly in the Central African Republic and in South Sudan, also caused thousands to flee to Chad and Cameroon, which are already hosting a significant number of refugees. Most of these people are expected to require continued humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs in 2014. With the support of DFATD and other donors, UNHCR provides protection and assistance to refugees, internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups in West Africa. Activities include: (1) providing protection and assistance to refugees, internally displaced people, recent returnees and stateless people; (2) safeguarding the right of protection and asylum; (3) seeking solutions for long-term refugee situations; and (4) providing protection and assistance for internally displaced-people in the region.