UNHCR’s operations in Asia and the Pacific encompass two of the world’ s largest forced displacement crises, involving large numbers of children without access to quality education, deep poverty, significant statelessness, low COVID-19 vaccination rates, and an ever-present threat of gender-based violence. Access to territory, asylum, and protection remain challenges across the region, where only 20 of the 45 countries and territories have acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and only three States are party to both statelessness conventions. The total number of asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons, Internally Displaced Persons ( IDP) and returnees ( both refugees and IDP) in Asia and the Pacific by the end of 2021 stood at 11.3 million, a 15 per cent increase from 2020. This includes 19 per cent of the world’s refugees (4.2 million of 21.3 million) within UNHCR’s mandate and 56 per cent of the world’s recorded stateless population (2.4 million out of 4.3 million).

“UNHCR will focus on the search for solutions in the Asia and the Pacific region. Too many refugees, IDPs and stateless persons in and from the region have been facing precarious situations for too long, generously hosted by countries and communities who have received too little support. The Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Refugee Forum give us a unique opportunity to turn the tide. It is time to broaden responsibility for protecting the displaced and stateless in the region and express solidarity through practical measures that concretely improve their lives”. Regional Director Indrika Ratwatte.