Lao People's Democratic Republic

The Thailand Multi-Country Office is based in Bangkok. It is responsible for operations in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The MCO countries host 91,182 refugees, 387 asylum-seekers, and around 459,549 stateless persons, most of whom reside in Thailand. 

Lao People's Democratic Republic receives only a small number of cases involving claims for international protection per year. The country is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention, and there is no framework for identifying international protection needs or refugee protection.

UNHCR assesses claims for international protection under its Mandate, which is usually done remotely from the Bangkok Office. Those recognized as refugees do not have access to local solutions, and efforts are made for them to depart for third-country solutions via resettlement or complementary pathways.