Lao People's Democratic Republic

$25.4 million
are needed this year to ensure operations covered by the Thailand multi-country office* are sustained.

*UNHCR’s operations in the Lao People's Democratic Republic are managed by the Thailand multi-country office, which also oversees operations in Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam, with needs budgeted jointly.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic receives only a small number of international protection claims each year. As the country is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and lacks a national asylum framework, UNHCR assesses asylum claims under its Mandate, typically from its Bangkok Office. Individuals recognized as refugees do not have access to local solutions and rely on third-country solutions, including resettlement and complementary pathways.

In 2024, UNHCR provided targeted support, including emergency cash assistance, and continued its engagement with the UN Country Team to advance protection priorities through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. While the operational footprint remains limited, UNHCR’s presence in the Lao PDR supports ongoing regional efforts to end statelessness and ensures readiness to respond to protection needs as they arise.