Assistance

A Helping Hand

People who are forced to flee their homes and seek safety in another country, or a different part of their own country, need help. Most refugees and internally displaced people leave their homes with little or nothing, and even those with some resources may soon exhaust them.

UNHCR and its partners provide vital assistance, which takes many forms. Initially, we provide live-saving emergency assistance. This includes clean water, sanitation, including for example latrines, wastewater handling and soap, health care, shelter materials and other relief items, such as blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans, household goods and sometimes food. Other vital assistance that we provide includes refugee registration, assistance and advice on asylum applications, education and counselling.

UNHCR's assistance extends to people who return home - we arrange transport by land, sea and air, and give returnees a start-up assistance package.

The agency is also involved in local integration or reintegration programmes, including income-generation projects and restoration of infrastructure.