The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and the League of Arab States, LAS, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the aim of establishing a global co-operation framework, to respond effectively to the needs of refugees in the Arab region and facilitate greater humanitarian access and rapid emergency responses.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony in New York, which was attended by Filippo Grandi, United Nations, UN, High Commissioner for Refugees, and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the LAS, on the sidelines of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly.

The UNHCR has been working closely with the LAS to raise awareness about asylum issues in the region, foster support among the 22 LAS member states and promote greater levels of protection throughout the region.

The UNHCR estimates that over half of the global refugee population and some 40 percent of internally displaced persons are being hosted in the Arab region while around half of its annual budget is allocated to its operations in the Middle East and North Africa.

"This agreement further solidifies the UNHCR’s long-standing co-operation with the LAS and its member states in addressing fundamental humanitarian and displacement challenges," Grandi said.

"Given the size and scale of forced displacements in the region, this strategic alliance with the Arab League will better enable us, collectively, to respond to the needs of refugees and internally displaced and stateless populations, while supporting the governments and societies that generously host them," he added.