Statement by UNHCR’s Filippo Grandi on the impact of global aid cuts on refugees

GENEVA – Brutal funding cuts in the humanitarian sector are putting millions of lives at risk. The consequences for people fleeing danger will be immediate and devastating:

• Refugee women and girls at extreme risk of rape and other abuse are already losing access to services that kept them safe.
• Children are being left without teachers or schools, pushing them into child labour, trafficking, or early marriage.
• Refugee communities will have less shelter, water and food.

Most refugees stay close to home. Slashing aid will make the world less safe, driving more desperate people to become refugees or keep moving onwards.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has sought innovative and efficient ways to deliver its mission, making the most of every donation for those fleeing danger. Over 90 per cent of our staff are on the front lines, delivering for affected communities.

Together with our partners, we responded to 43 refugee emergencies last year alone. With less funding, fewer staff and a smaller UNHCR presence in countries hosting refugees, the equation is simple: lives will be lost.

This is not just a funding shortfall – it is a crisis of responsibility. The cost of inaction will be measured in suffering, instability and lost futures.

Our commitment to people forced to flee remains unwavering. With continued support, we can identify and assist the most vulnerable, rapidly deploy when new emergencies hit, help stabilize fragile regions and facilitate the safe return home of refugees.

We appeal to member States to honour their commitments to displaced people. Now is the time for solidarity, not retreat.

For more information, please contact:

• In Geneva, Matthew Saltmarsh, saltmars@unhcr.org, +41 79 967 99 36
• In Geneva, Olga Sarrado, sarrado@unhcr.org, +41 79 740 2307