Our work
Today, UNHCR is one of the world's principal humanitarian agencies with 6,650 national and international members of staff working in 118 countries.
Our budget has grown from US$300,000 in its first year to more than US$2 billion in 2009, and with this money we help more than 34 million people: 14.4 million internally displaced people, 10.5 million refugees, 2 million returnees, 6.6 million stateless people and more than 800,000 asylum seekers.
As well as providing live-saving shelter, food, water and medical care, we strive to improve refugees’ quality of life and future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools and income-generating projects in established refugee camps and communities.
© UNHCR/J.Björgvinsson
Refugees, including a baby, are picked up at a security post in the fishing village of Broom, Yemen by a UNHCR truck that will bring them to the Mayfaa reception centre.
