Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme

Sixty-third session

Geneva, 1-5 October 2012

Update on UNHCR’s operations in Asia and the Pacific

A. Situational analysis including new developments

The Asia-Pacific region is home to the world’s largest and oldest refugee populations. The protection environment continues to be fragile with very few countries having signed the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Asia remains, however, a region with a good record of providing asylum to large numbers of refugees.

Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme

Sixty-third session

Geneva, 1-5 October 2012

Update on UNHCR’s operations in Africa

While new or escalating refugee emergencies continue to command a decisive part of UNHCR’s attention and resources in Africa in 2012, the region has continued to present opportunities to bring long-standing refugee situations to a close. Some of these situations have been successfully resolved while others present a number of remaining challenges.

A. Situational analysis including new developments

DURBAN, Afrique du Sud, 13 avril (HCR) – Des chants et des rires d'enfants résonnent dans les couloirs et la cage d'escalier sombres d'un immeuble résidentiel de huit étages situé dans le centre de Durban.

Les babillages tendres, plutôt surprenants dans ce lieu sinistre, proviennent d'un appartement au cinquième étage, où les visiteurs sont chaleureusement accueillis par un petit groupe d'enfants âgés de deux à six ans, débordant d'enthousiasme.