What is UNHCRs position vis-a-vis the internally displaced?
UNHCR’s mandate specifically covers refugees, but in the last 30 years it has assisted in more than 30 IDP operations around the world, from Columbia to Liberia to Afghanistan. A comprehensive agreement reached in 2005 reinforced and made more explicit the roles of the international community and specialist agencies in helping internally displaced people. Under this agreement, UNHCR assumes the lead responsbility for protection, emergency shelter and camp management for internally displaced people. As of January 2006, UNHCR has taken on this role for several countries.
