East Asia and the Pacific

Operational information on the East Asia and the Pacific subregion is presented below. A summary of this can also be downloaded in PDF format. This subregion covers the following countries:

Subregion: East Asia and the Pacific

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Latest update of camps and office locations 21 Nov 2016. By clicking on the icons on the map, additional information is displayed.

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Budgets and Expenditure in Subregion East Asia and the Pacific

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2016 {"categories":[2012,2013,2014,2015,2016],"budget":[16.525354207,15.34539986,13.85213814,12.377742098,12.19028488],"expenditure":[13.07280675,11.15261125,10.32652066,9.14630248,8.30675425]} {"categories":[2012,2013,2014,2015,2016],"p1":[16.141246217,14.93738811,13.55410589,11.951996448,11.7310978],"p2":[0.38410799,0.40801175,0.29803225,0.42574565,0.45918708],"p3":[null,null,null,null,null],"p4":[null,null,null,null,null]} {"categories":[2012,2013,2014,2015,2016],"p1":[12.80539421,10.8423443,10.04318131,8.86550122,8.05275391],"p2":[0.26741254,0.31026695,0.28333935,0.28080126,0.25400034],"p3":[null,null,null,null,null],"p4":[null,null,null,null,null]}

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People of Concern - 2016

[["Refugees",370784],["Refugee-like situation",4581],["Asylum-seekers",56561],["Stateless",837],["Others of concern",2]]

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Plan Overview
Year-End Report

Response in 2016

In 2016, UNHCR’s Regional Office in Australia focused on preserving and strengthening asylum space in Australia and New Zealand; improving protection from refoulement; expanding durable solutions; and promoting a positive understanding of refugees and asylum-seekers. Monitoring of Australian and New Zealand admissibility and eligibility procedures focused on ensuring access to fair and efficient refugee status determination (RSD), and providing comments to legislative instruments and guidelines. UNHCR monitored policy and practice regarding detention at the processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea, where UNHCR has serious concerns that the treatment of people fails to meet minimum international standards. In November 2016, the Australian Government announced a bilateral agreement with the United States of America to consider the relocation of refugees who were transferred to regional processing centers in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. UNHCR provided assistance on an exceptional, good offices basis, by endorsing referrals made to the United States of America. UNHCR promoted public awareness through multiple media, including the “Human Lives, Human Rights” campaign highlighting the positive contributions of refugees in Australia.

UNHCR’s strategy in the Pacific was designed to: provide practical support to States to introduce protection safeguards and develop a national refugee policy and framework; sustain capacity building; and to provide support in relation to people of concern.

China is a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, but is yet to enact formal legislative or administrative provisions governing asylum. In the absence of a national legal framework, UNHCR conducts RSD and assists the government by seeking durable solutions for refugees. In 2016, UNHCR focused its efforts on advocating for a legislative framework on asylum and statelessness and undertook capacity building activities with relevant government counterparts. In Hong Kong, the government implemented the Unified Screening Mechanism (USM) to determine the status of asylum claimants in March 2014 and therefore Sub–Office Hong Kong (SOHK) ceased RSD. In 2016, 52 potential new applicants approached SOHK and were referred to the Government’s USM procedure.

In the Republic of Korea, UNHCR and several refugee advocacy organizations released a detailed study on the conditions and procedures for asylum-seekers at Korean ports of entry. The study expressed concern with the laws and procedures relating to asylum claims at the airport and the physical conditions under which non-referred asylum-seekers are detained. The pilot resettlement programme continued in 2016, with the arrival of 34 Myanmar refugees from Thailand and another group of about the same size from Thailand planned for 2017.

In Japan, the number of asylum-seekers continued to rise in 2016, surpassing over 10,000, an increase of 44 per cent as compared to 2015. This has placed significant stress on the existing RSD system.
Japan received 18 Myanmarese refugees from Malaysia as part of the formal resettlement programme. The government announced in May 2016 admission of 150 Syrian students during the next 5 years, of which 100 are administered by JICA. UNHCR provided policy and technical advice to JICA for developing the framework for admission of 100 Syrian refugee students under the scholarship programme.

During 2016, UNHCR enhanced its partnership with the Ministry of Justice through regular dialogue, as well as increased capacity-building activities and some new training programs. However, due to lack of sufficient resources, UNHCR was limited in its ability to support the Government’s efforts to process and manage increasing numbers of asylum applications. UNHCR also continued to foster relationships with its main private sector partner, Japan for UNHCR (J4U) in order to ensure broader support for UNHCR throughout the country.

Summary (ENG) or Résumé (FR)

50	Number of personnel (international and national)
5	Number of offices
12.2 million	Overall funding requirements in USD (ExCom-approved 2016 budget)

Operational Environment and Strategy

Mixed flows of asylum-seekers and migrants from South-West Asia, the Middle East, and Africa continue to feature on the protection agenda in this subregion. UNHCR is pursuing dialogue with all relevant actors to: foster regional cooperation; prevent refoulement; seek alternatives to the detention of asylum-seekers; and discourage the development of restrictive asylum policies.

In Australia, asylum policies have created challenges in maintaining the protection space, in particular the transfer of asylum-seekers arriving by sea to offshore processing centres (in Nauru and Papua New Guinea), with no prospect of a viable durable solution, and the interception of asylum-seeker vessels. However, Australia has also maintained the generosity it has traditionally displayed, providing resettlement places and high levels of support to UNHCR in response to multiple large-scale humanitarian crises around the world.

In New Zealand, the overall asylum and refugee framework remains positive, with a modest but well-managed resettlement programme and consistent financial support to UNHCR. Legislation to deter arrivals by sea came into force in 2013, although no push-backs have occurred to date.

The Pacific island countries are strengthening collaboration on border management and refugee protection. UNHCR continues to undertake mandate assessments for asylum-seekers and monitor the processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea. In 2016, it will also continue to advocate for the application of international standards for the treatment of people of concern.

In Papua New Guinea, concrete steps have been initiated to waive naturalization fees for refugee applicants. Approximately 10,000 West Papuans are currently undergoing registration to facilitate naturalization or refugee status.

China is becoming a transit and destination country for mixed movements as a result of its geographical and economic importance. The operational environment in China, including the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs), continues to be varied. In 2016, UNHCR will continue to provide support to the authorities to implement national refugee legislation and to enhance protection for all people of concern.

In Japan, the Ministry of Justice issued its draft Fifth Immigration Control Basic Plan in June 2015. UNHCR is lending support to ensure compliance with international principles and standards in the Government’s review of its asylum system. UNHCR is also strengthening partnerships with academia and universities in support of education for refugees.

In the Republic of Korea, UNHCR provides technical assistance and monitors the implementation of the National Refugee Act, which came into force in 2013. The Office works closely with the Ministry of Justice and with civil society to further improve: access to asylum procedures at ports of entry; refugee status determination (RSD) procedures; birth registration; reception conditions; and self-reliance of people of concern.

In order to maintain public support for UNHCR and to address protection issues for people of concern, UNHCR’s presence in the subregion is aimed at nurturing strategic partnerships, including with the private sector and civil society. Extensive awareness-raising, protection advocacy, community outreach programmes and fundraising will continue to be undertaken.

Response and Implementation

In Australia and New Zealand, in 2016 UNHCR will continue to monitor legislative and policy developments, and to advocate for asylum policies and laws that do not discriminate against or penalize asylum-seekers on the basis of their mode of arrival. The Office will support the respective Governments to conduct fair and efficient RSD procedures, and improve access to the territory. UNHCR will also promote public awareness of asylum and refugee protection issues, including the dynamics of forced population movements by sea.

The Office will monitor the implementation of bilateral arrangements between Australia and Papua New Guinea and between Australia and Nauru in relation to offshore processing of asylum-seekers and refugees, as well as in pursuing appropriate durable solutions for refugees.

UNHCR will provide support to the Pacific Island States to introduce protection safeguards in immigration procedures and establish and/or reinforce RSD capacity through training. In Papua New Guinea, UNHCR will continue to facilitate durable solutions for West Papuan refugees, in particular through local integration, and will support measures to enhance the capacity of governmental and NGO partners to provide effective protection and assistance to non-Melanesian asylum-seekers and refugees.

In China, UNHCR will continue to balance the direct delivery of protection and assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees with greater advocacy and provision of technical support to the Government. On the basis of the 2013 Exit-Entry Administration Law, UNHCR will continue to advocate for the Government to assume full responsibility for registration, RSD and durable solutions, in line with international standards. In Hong Kong SAR, China, UNHCR will closely monitor the implementation of the 2014 Unified Screening Mechanism and extend necessary support. In Macao SAR, China, UNHCR will continue to engage both the authorities and local actors to ensure the implementation of the 1951 Convention.

In Japan, UNHCR will support measures to improve the asylum system; develop fair and efficient RSD procedures; and establish adequate reception conditions. It will also work to increase the involvement of municipalities and host and refugee communities. The Office will continue to support the resettlement programme and advocate for Japan’s accession to the statelessness conventions. UNHCR will also strengthen partnership with development actors, notably the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In the Republic of Korea, the Office will advocate for improvements to the asylum system and in the treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers, and enhance engagement with the Government, the National Human Rights Commission, NGOs and civil society. UNHCR provides technical assistance to the Government in the implementation of the Refugee Act, and also focuses on strengthening self-reliance for people of concern, in particular encouraging their access to livelihoods, in cooperation with partners. The Office will also support the Government’s efforts to establish a resettlement programme.