UNHCR works to ensure everyone’s right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in a third country, when in fear for their life and, and to protect people from becoming stateless or for such people to obtain a nationality. UNHCR looks closely to the needs of children, elderly, persons with disabilities – who are often more vulnerable – and promotes gender rights and equality.
While it is the host country who has the primary responsibility to protect those forcibly displaced and stateless people, UNHCR supports and guides these countries and authorities in the fulfilment of their responsibilities.
In South Sudan, UNHCR works with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and other aid partners to ensure refugees and those displaced can live safely in camps and settlements with dignity, until it is possible for them to return home. In particular, we collaborate with the South Sudan’s Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA), which is the national agency responsible to manage all issues related to refugees.
Another essential government counterpart is the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), which oversees all topics related to IDPs, IDP returnees and South Sudanese refugees spontaneously returning to their country. On statelessness, UNHCR works closely with the Department of Civil Registration, Nationality, Passport and Immigration (DCRNPI).
As a member of the United Nations Country Team in South Sudan, we closely cooperate with all UN agencies in the country, and in partnership with various national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs and INGOs) as well as several civil society organisations.