Refugee Problems in Asia and Africa: Role of the UNHCR

The world community has been witness to rising ethnic strife, conflicts between nations and communities leading to untold miseries to teeming millions who become victims of ethnic violence, wars, genocides and pogroms as they lose state protection, rendering them homeless and forcing them to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The phenomenon has reached such monstrous proportions particularly in recent past that it has become a major concern of the international community, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) playing vital role in mitigating the problem. The book is about the UNHCR, its mandate and the enormous contribution it is making in providing relief to millions of refugees, with special reference to Bangladeshi, Afghani, Somali, Sri Lankan Tamil and Tibetan Refugees. The book examines the socio-political and economic causes of this humanitarian crisis and functional and structural aspects of UNHCR.