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UN financial crisis puts aid for refugees at risk

Politiko 2025-06-16 19:59:17

UN financial crisis puts aid for refugees at risk

About 3,500 jobs will be cut at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) due to a lack of funding, the agency announced today, announcing that it plans a global reduction of about 30% in personnel costs.

"In this difficult economic reality, we are forced to scale down our operations. We are focusing on activities that have the greatest impact on refugees, simplifying structures at headquarters and in regional offices," said High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in a press release.

The crisis comes after US President Donald Trump's decision to freeze international aid, which has triggered a series of cuts to many international aid organisations. However, officials stress that the US is not alone in reducing financial contributions.

According to recent data, UNHCR has closed or reduced offices in several countries, reduced management positions at its headquarters in Geneva and in regional offices by almost 50%, while hundreds of temporary staff have been laid off due to lack of funding.

"We estimate that the overall personnel cost will be reduced by about 30%," the statement notes.

Although operations in areas with the most urgent refugee needs remain a priority, many essential programs – such as economic assistance to families in need, health, education, and sanitation – have been severely hit.

UNHCR expects to end this year with funding similar to that of the previous 10 years, even though the number of forcibly displaced people in the world has doubled, reaching over 122 million.

At the end of last year, 1 in every 67 people in the world was forcibly displaced, for a total of 123.2 million people – including 73.5 million internally displaced people and 31 million refugees under UNHCR protection.

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