UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) is the UN Refugee Agency. Formed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, UNHCR has helped an estimated 50 million refugees restart their lives, winning two Nobel Peace Prizes in the process. It is one of the world's foremost humanitarian agencies, providing shelter, protection, emergency food, medical care and other necessities to those who have been forced to abandon their homes and flee due to violence, persecution or war. This year alone, UNHCR will help more than 20 million people in 116 countries. The agency is active in Afghanistan, Darfur, Chad, Columbia, Uganda, and many other locations.

At the height of the Afghan refugee crisis, as many as 8 million people had fled abroad to escape the violence at home. Since 2002, nearly 5 million Afghan refugees have returned after years of living in Pakistan and Iran. For many, the return home has proved very difficult. Many refugees live in abject poverty. They are homeless, landless, and have no access to clean water, schools, or health clinics.

In September of 2007, Khaled returned to Afghanistan as an envoy for the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. He visited villages in northern Afghanistan and spoke to refugees who have resettled there. He saw first hand the humanitarian assistance provided by aid organizations such as UNHCR. This return trip reinforced for Khaled the reality that Afghans are still hopelessly dependent on the support of the international community. He hopes that the wealthy western nations will continue their rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, and make a genuine and long term commitment to ensuring the future of the coming generation of Afghans.

Click on the video below to see images from his trip and to hear his impressions. 

The tragedy in Darfur has caused an enormous humanitarian crisis. Since 2003, two million people in Darfur have become displaced. Nearly 400,000 people have been killed. There are nearly 250,000 refugees from Darfur currently living in Eastern Chad. Despite international outcry, the Janjaweed militia, with the support of the Sudanese government, continue to slaughter innocent people and burn villages in Darfur. Many of the murdered are women and helpless children. The people of Darfur desperately need help. To help, or to learn more about Darfur, or USA for UNHCR's Aid Darfur campaign, please visit: UNrefugees.org.

"When UNHCR asked me to work with them as a goodwill envoy, I didn't think twice. As a native of Afghanistan, a country with one of the world's largest refugee populations, the refugee issue is one that is close and dear to my heart. My role with UNHCR is to speak on behalf of the refugee cause and to serve as a public advocate for refugees around the world. It will be my privilege to try to capture public attention and to use my access to media to give voice to victims of humanitarian crises. I look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with UNHCR." — Khaled Hosseini