United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the official UN agency for refugee services.
Composition
The high commissioner is elected by the General Assembly. They serve for a term of 5 years.
History
Preceding agencies include the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, established in 1944 to resolve migrant issues in Europe following World War 2, and the International Refugee Organization, established in 1947 to administer long-term refugee crises.
The agency was established in 1950 as a non-profit subsidiary of the General Assembly. It has been iteratively reformed by the GA and ECOSOC since.