At year-end 2003, Chile hosted approximately 510 refugees and asylum seekers, including 220 Peruvians and 120 Colombians. There were about 90 applications, with 60 from Colombians. About 45 people were granted asylum, with the largest group being 20 Colombians. About 45 cases were pending at year-end. Approximately 160 Chileans were refugees and asylum seekers in Canada and the United States.

New Developments

Chile continued its small refugee resettlement program begun in 1999. Twelve were resettled to Chile in 2003, ten of them from Afghanistan, bringing to about 50 the total since the program began. The UN High Commissioer for Refugees (UNHCR) worked with local governments in Chile and with non-governmental agencies to facilitate integration, including a micro-credit program.

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