Today, the number, complexity and prolongation of today's conflicts shows that forced displacement has reached an unprecedented level since the founding of the United Nations. At present, more than 68 million people are displaced because of persecution, conflict, widespread violence or human rights violations. Turkey continues to have the highest number of countries hosting refugees in the world.

Since 1960, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is working in close cooperation with Turkey in asylum and refugee issues. Turkey and the UNHCR gives formalize existing cooperation and strengthen the Host Country Agreement was signed on 1st September, 2016. UNHCR's operation in Turkey, as well as the head office in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Gaziantep, Hatay is one of the largest operations in the world with presence in the field in Sanliurfa and Van. 

UNHCR was founded in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly, with the power to lead and coordinate the international intervention to protect refugees and find solutions to the problems of refugees.

Its main purpose is to protect the rights and welfare of refugees. At one point, with voluntary return to their homes, local integration and a third country placement option, they struggle to ensure that each individual can use his right to seek asylum and be safe as a refugee in another country. In addition, UNHCR has a mandate to help stateless persons.

UNHCR's main field of activities in Turkey are as follows:

• United Nations agencies, led to Turkey's intervention in order to support the work carried out by the Syrian refugee crisis and to ensure coordination,
• environment protection for persons in need of international protection present in Turkey and to strengthen access to social support mechanisms,
• To provide humanitarian assistance to refugees living in camps and urban areas by working in close cooperation with Turkish authorities,
• Supporting and contributing to institutional and legal capacity building activities to strengthen the national asylum system,
• To register non-Syrian refugees and to carry out the Refugee Status Determination procedure within the scope of their jurisdiction and to follow up resettlement and other legal means in third countries.