The Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Unit undertake interviews with asylum seekers and assess whether applicants for refugee status meet the refugee criteria.
A vital part of being recognized as a refugee is Refugee Status Determination (RSD). This is the legal or administrative process by which governments or UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered a refugee under international, regional or national law. States have the primary responsibility for determining the status of asylum-seekers, but UNHCR may do so where states are unable or unwilling.
The continuous inflow of new arrivals against the backdrop of limited operational capacity has led to an increase in the backlog of asylum seekers waiting for refugee status determination.
With constraints in funding, UNHCR will prioritize maintaining the current staffing and continue with ad-hoc capacity building for the Refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) staff.
Progress continues to be seen in the transition of RSD responsibilities to the Government, notably in the form of expanded capacity and expertise of the RAS eligibility staff, enhanced commitment and predictability of the RAS management and construction of facilities and structures.
It is expected that in 2017 the government’s Refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) will fully assumes responsibility for reception, registration, documentation, RSD and refugee management with UNHCR’s active support