Warning to the Executive Committee
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih warned in Geneva on October 12 that declining donor support was already restricting refugee assistance worldwide. Addressing UNHCR’s Executive Committee, he said the agency had received US$3 billion against its US$8.5 billion requirement for 2026, covering approximately 35 percent of needs.
The warning accompanied a major restructuring. UNHCR’s workforce has fallen from around 20,000 employees in 2024 to just under 12,000. Salih argued that organisational savings cannot indefinitely compensate for the loss of funding.
Operational consequences across countries
Geneva Solutions reported that UNHCR has responded to 22 emergencies in eighteen countries this year. Salih said more than 117 million people were displaced worldwide, while humanitarian organisations faced pressure to sustain assistance with fewer resources.
He cited suspended registration for tens of thousands of refugees from South Sudan and Eritrea in Ethiopia. In Chad, services for unaccompanied children were at risk. These examples show how financial constraints affect access to protection and assistance, rather than only the agency’s administrative structure.
Donor commitments and the next budget
The proposed 2027 budget is US$7.1 billion, approximately 16 percent below the 2026 requirement. However, projected receipts currently stand at US$2.68 billion. Salih said that forecast could change as donors clarify their commitments, including at a pledging conference in December.
His appeal also linked protection to longer-term opportunities for displaced people. UNHCR’s “50 by 35 Vision” seeks to halve the number living in prolonged displacement and dependent on humanitarian assistance by 2035. Salih stressed that success must be measured through improved lives and self-reliance, while continued support remains necessary for people who still need humanitarian protection.
Reference
Le Poidevin, O. (2026, October 12). UN refugee agency’s funding shortfall is impacting refugees worldwide, its chief says. Reuters.