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UNHCR, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, was established in 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. The UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or to resettle in a third country. |
The IKEA Foundation has entered in to a unique three-year partnership with UNHCR to provide refugee children and families with temporary accommodation, life skills and economic empowerment. The IKEA Foundation has previously supported UNHCR in various ways. During 2010, 100,000 relevant IKEA products were sent to UNHCR temporary shelters in Kyrgyzstan in connection with the conflict there causing thousands of people to be displaced. We have also funded the purchase and distribution of school books for children in the world’s largest refugee camp, Daadab, in Kenya. IKEA Logistics teams have also met with UNHCR logistics and procurement teams for knowledge exchange.
UNHCR goes where help is needed
To date, our partnership has gone from Kyrgyzstan to Kenya, and more is to come.
A unique new partnership
