UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Published purpose

The Middle East and North Africa are host to over 2.2 million refugees and over 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), many reliant on humanitarian agencies to cover their basic needs. Of particular concern is one of the world's most protracted refugee situations in Algeria, where over 165,000 Sahrawi refugees remain displaced after over 3 decades with almost no opportunities for self-reliance and still dependent on the United Nations for food, clean water, basic health services, shelter and protection. In addition, in 2009 the steady flow of refugees has continued to increase in southern Yemen, now hosting over 165,000 refugees, the majority from Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa. CIDA's contribution is supporting the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide protection and assistance to refugees and displaced persons in the Middle East and North Africa. Activites focus on providing basic humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable refugees, including food assistance, shelter, safe water, and basic health and medical care. UNHCR is also working to improve access to adequate asylum procedures for asylum-seekers; to support the establishment of national asylum systems; and to expand partnerships with States, non-governmental organisations and civil-society institutions to promote regional strategies for mixed migration movements.