Asylum and Migration

During one Mare Nostrum rescue operation, 220 people – from Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Sudan, Malaysia and Syria – huddle under blankets on the deck of an Italian Navy ship, waiting to be transferred to the mainland.

Expert staff within our Geneva-based Asylum and Migration Unit work hard to address the many challenges that we encounter, helping regional teams to implement refugee protection measures and providing legal and policy advice to UNHCR operations.

The unit also identifies emerging trends and developments which affect people of concern, and contributes to initiatives aimed at remedying existing protection gaps. It also represents UNHCR at international migration forums.

In 2016, our Asylum and Migration Unit is dedicated to protecting those involved in mixed migratory movements and at sea. It will also work to protect the displaced from trafficking, as well as other forms of violence and abuse.

Our 10-point plan outlines key areas in which action is required to address mixed migration in countries of origin, transit and destination.