Asia and the Pacific
Asia and the Pacific
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Regional overview
With some 17.2 million refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless people, the Asia and the Pacific region presents a complex set of situations, from emergencies requiring an immediate humanitarian response to contexts needing innovative and sustainable solutions.
In Afghanistan, UNHCR rapidly scaled up its operation and provided Afghans with core relief items, cash and/or in-kind assistance, and winterisation support. But many challenges remain, particularly for women and girls, including food insecurity, inflation and high economic instability, as well as limited livelihoods and severe climate shocks.
Over a million Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Myanmar in successive waves of displacement since the early 1990s. UNHCR focuses on finding sustainable solutions for Rohingya refugees and advocates for sustained support to host countries until solutions are achieved.
Ongoing emergencies in Asia and the Pacific
UNHCR's work in the region
UNHCR continues its strategic efforts to protect, assist and pursue durable solutions for affected populations in the region.
Humanitarian crises in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to increase in scope, scale and complexity in 2025, while decreasing donor funding will not keep pace with the rising needs. In 2025, UNHCR will seek the fulfilment of over 150 pledges made at the Global Refugee Forum, including more than 60 from States committing to enhance protection and solutions, especially for Afghan and Rohingya refugees.
UNHCR works on facilitating third-country resettlement and scaling up support for complementary pathways in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and the Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan. We collaborate with the relevant national counterparts to promote access to territory, fair asylum procedures, and protection-sensitive border controls across the region. We also call for greater responsibility-sharing for rescuing refugees undertaking risky journeys at sea and developing safe and legal pathways.
Together with refugee-led organisations, we monitor and support survivors of gender-based violence and women at risk, offering counselling and referral services and meeting their basic needs.
Across the region, UNHCR seeks the inclusion and empowerment of people who have been forced to flee and will aim to bring a sustainable end to their forced displacement, while easing the pressure on host communities.
Population and financial overview
Asia and the Pacific
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
figures
figures
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.
Population by country
Population by country
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.
Population by origin
Population by origin
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.
Financial
Select Operation
Budget by Impact Areas
Budget by Impact Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Operation
Budget by Operation
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
total POC
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Forced displacement in the context of climate change
Nearly 80% of the world’s climate-induced displacement is reportedly in Asia and the Pacific.
As climate shocks become more frequent and severe, UNHCR aims to better protect and strengthen the resilience of displaced people in climate-vulnerable countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
UNHCR works on providing legal, policy and practical solutions for the protection of people displaced by the effects of climate change and natural disasters. We aim for sustainability and an environmentally sensitive footprint.
