The Nepalese government policy on refugees has put the status of hundreds of people in confusion, prompting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to call for proper legislation, REPORTED DPA. The difference of opinion centres on about 400 people who are classified as "urban refugees" by the UNHCR but not recognized by the Nepalese government. The issue has led to the Nepalese government accusing the UNHCR of giving refugee status to people without its consent. "The UNHCR should not issue refugee and asylum seeker certificates unilaterally," Home Ministry spokesman Baman Prasad Neupane said. He further warned that those people taking shelter under the UNHCR's "urban refugee programme" would be treated as illegal immigrants. He said Nepal is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention nor does it have refugee laws. However, the UNHCR said the UN General Assembly has mandated the refugee body to provide protection and assistance to anyone who flees the country of origin out of fear of persecution or conflict. The UN refugee body's Nepal representative, Abraham Abraham, said, "Nepal must distinguish between refugees and migrants or travelers." He also called for Nepal to become a signatory to the protocol or formulate laws on the treatment of refugees. "There are people who arrived here whom we cannot put in limbo because we do have an obligation under the mandate to provide protection to these individuals," Abraham said.
