News

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), António Guterres, met with Chief of Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Rytis Paulauskas, and stressed the importance of Lithuania’s political solidarity and humanitarian help in conflict areas.

 “Your political solidarity in times of crisis is very important and highly appreciated,” Guterres said.

He suggested that Lithuania’s experience in providing humanitarian aid should be more actively used in the UNHCR Office’s activities.

Paulauskas highlighted the close cooperation of Lithuanian institutions with the UNHCR regional office in Stockholm and its representatives in Vilnius.

The Ambassador presented the senior United Nations official the main priorities of Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU Council, including the enhancement of the protection of EU external borders.

The meeting also discussed Lithuania’s steps in implementing international obligations to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and people seeking asylum, assure access to appropriate health and social care services, and to improve the asylum procedures.

It was agreed to more actively use the experience of the Office while disseminating information about refugee problems worldwide.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees worldwide.

According to the data of  the United Nations Office at Geneva, today there are about 42.5 million refugees and more than 27.5 million internally displaced persons, due to civil wars and other similar conflicts.