About UNHCR & Contacts

In Botswana, the Government, through the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), leads the response to protect and assist refugees and asylum-seekers in the country.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, provides support, capacity development and technical advice to authorities in Botswana.

As the refugee agency, UNHCR coordinates the efforts of UN agencies and partners to support Botswana’s refugee response and avoid gaps in the assistance provided.

The Government of Botswana is responsible for processing international protection claims, recognizing someone as a refugee, and facilitating their integration with the support of UNHCR.

This means that in Botswana, UNHCR does NOT have the authority to:

• Receive and review asylum applications
• Influence the outcome of international protection proceedings
• Although UNHCR has been invited to proceedings through observer status during asylum applications

Instead, the government of Botswana is responsible for these procedures.

Our primary purpose at UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people forced to flee. Together with partners and communities, we work to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. We also strive to secure lasting solutions.

• Asylum-seeker: individual seeking international protection whose application is still under consideration.
• Refugees: people fleeing conflict or persecution who have been granted asylum status and protection.
• Stateless People: people who do not have a nationality and can struggle to realise their human rights.
• Returnees: people who voluntarily return to their country of origin when the circumstances that have led to their flight have changed, or it is safe to do so.

In Botswana, UNHCR has an office in the Dukwi village, where the refugee camp is based.

The UNHCR Representation in South Africa is a multi-country office that also covers: Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa and Comoros.

Refugees and asylum seekers registered in Botswana can contact UNHCR directly:

• by Email: [email protected]

ATTENTION! You can write to us in any language you are comfortable with! Interpreters will assist us in translating your concerns/issues confidentially.