The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) protects persons forced to flee due to conflict and persecution. UNHCR works with governments and partners in over 130 countries to provide lifesaving support and protect rights.
The UNHCR Multi-country Office in Panama supports refugees and asylum seekers across nine Caribbean states and territories: Aruba, Belize, Cuba, Curaçao, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Panama office collaborates with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, and host communities to help displaced persons find safety and rebuild their lives.
UNHCR in Cuba provides guidance to persons needing international protection, determines refugee status, and manages access to services and rights under its mandate before relevant national authorities.
The Cuban state is not a signatory to international refugee conventions and lacks a legal framework or national mechanism for refugee status determination or protection. Therefore, UNHCR performs these procedures for persons seeking international protection in Cuban territory.