PRM/EAP-SCA - East Asia and Pacific and South Central Asia

Northeast Asia 

Northeast Asia Regional Overview

There are two main populations of concerns in Northeast Asia: North Korean and Uyghur asylum seekers and refugees. 

North Korean asylum seekers and refugees

The 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act (NKHRA), which was reauthorized in 2012, authorizes assistance to North Korean refugees.  The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration works closely with other bureaus in the Department to provide assistance to this population and to encourage host governments to improve their treatment of North Korean asylum seekers and refugees, including preventing their forcible return to North Korea.  PRM also supports the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as other organizations providing humanitarian assistance programs serving North Korean refugees in the Asia region. 

Uyghur asylum seekers and refugees

Chinese Uyghur asylum seekers and refugees face a complex set of issues that leaves them extremely vulnerable when they seek international protection in countries of first asylum.  The United States government works closely with international partners and host governments to protect Uyghurs from being forcibly returned to the country from which they fled. 

Where Does PRM Work in the Region?

The Regional Refugee Coordinator team based in Bangkok, Thailand and the Refugee Coordinator in Rangoon, Burma (September 2020) cover populations of concern in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific. 

South Asia 

South Asia Regional Overview

PRM’s protection and assistance efforts focus on six primary populations of concern in South Asia (primarily in Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka):  Tibetans, Bhutanese, Sri Lankans, Burmese, urban refugees of various nationalities, and stateless individuals.  For information on PRM’s work in Bangladesh, please see the Southeast Asia website. 

Tibetan refugees

Since the Dalai Lama fled China in 1959, Tibetans have left China seeking asylum in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and elsewhere throughout South Asia.  The numbers of Tibetans departing China has decreased since Chinese authorities tightened security following 2008 protests among Tibetans in China.  PRM continues to work to ensure that Tibetan asylum seekers are not returned forcibly to China and to enhance protection for Tibetan refugees resident in Nepal and India. 

Bhutanese refugees

There are approximately 6,500 Bhutanese refugees residing in two camps in Eastern Nepal.  The United States government and other donors are urging the governments of Bhutan and Nepal to resume bilateral or trilateral discussions with UNHCR to allow interested Bhutanese refugees to pursue voluntary repatriation or continue efforts on local integration. 

Sri Lankan refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)

When the fighting concluded in May 2009, nearly 300,000 Sri Lankans fled their country or areas of origin, adding to the IDPs that were already in protracted displacement.  The U.S. government advocates for the return of privately-owned land seized by the military during the war, as well as needed infrastructure and services to allow IDPs to achieve durable solutions and re-establish their lives. 

How Does PRM help?

PRM provides support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international organizations that are active in the region. 

In addition, PRM provides funding to The Tibet Fund and other NGOs, which provides protection and assistance to Tibetan refugees. 

Where Does PRM Work in the Region?

The Regional Refugee Coordinator teams based in Kathmandu, Nepal and Bangkok, Thailand, monitor the protection and assistance needs of the above-mentioned populations of concern. 

Southeast Asia 

Southeast Asia Regional Overview

PRM supports humanitarian assistance and protection programs for vulnerable populations in more than ten different countries including Bangladesh, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.  In addition, PRM monitors issues pertaining to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless persons, vulnerable migrants, and other victims of conflict originating from Southeast Asia and displaced throughout East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia regions. 

What Are the Major Challenges in the Region?

Currently, there are over three million refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, and other persons of concern in the region.  Rohingya refugees from Burma comprise the largest group of persons of concern in the region, including stateless Rohingya in Burma and more than 860,000 Rohingya refugees, who have taken refuge in Bangladesh. 

How Does PRM Help?

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration supports programs that provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable, crisis-affected people in the region through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).  PRM also provides funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to respond to humanitarian crises in the region. 

Bangladesh

PRM funds UNHCR, IOM, ICRC, UNICEF, other international organizations, and NGOs in Bangladesh to assist refugees and Bangladeshi host communities with protection, emergency shelter, healthcare and psychosocial support, food and nutritional assistance, access to safe drinking water, capacity building, education, and gender-based violence support. 

Thailand

PRM supports UNHCR, IOM, and NGOs in Thailand to provide water, health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene, mental health and psychosocial support, food and nutrition, shelter, gender-based violence prevention and response, legal assistance, mine risk education, and community-based rehabilitation to refugees and asylum seekers.  Through support to UNHCR and ICRC, PRM is also helping to create conditions in Burma that are conducive for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable returns of Rohingya and other Burmese refugees from Thailand and Bangladesh. 

Malaysia

PRM supports UNHCR and NGO programs to assist urban refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia by providing physical and mental health care, and gender-based violence prevention and response. 

Indonesia

PRM supports UNHCR and NGO programs to assist refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia, including providing protection, assistance, and shelter for unaccompanied refugee minors. 

Where Does PRM Work in the Region?

The Regional Refugee Coordinator team based in Bangkok, Thailand and Refugee Coordinator in Rangoon, Burma (beginning September 2020) cover populations of concern in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific. The Regional Refugee and Humanitarian Coordinator team based in Dhaka, Bangladesh covers Rohingya refugees and other vulnerable populations in Bangladesh.  The Regional Refugee Assistant based in Kathmandu, Nepal covers other populations of concern in Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka.