“Right now, millions of people face worsening living conditions, increasing the risk of exploitation and abuse and could be forced into further displacement,” he said. “Following the substantial cuts in humanitarian budgets, up to 11.6 million refugees and others have been forced to lose the risk of losing access this year to fix humanitarian assistance from UNHCR. This figure represents about a third of what the organization reached last year.”
In 2025, the main UNHCR support programs have already been cut by $1.4 billion. UNHCR’s total funding needs for 2025 were $10.6 billion, with only 23% being met by the mid-year period.
The lack of funding that affected UNHCR’s activities as well as Africa has been reduced by 60% worldwide, and housing programs have been reduced, Tass reported.
“In places like Niger, cuts in financial aid from shelters put families at risk of crowded structures and homelessness,” the report said.
“Around 1.9 million Afghans have either returned home or been forced since the beginning of the year, but financial aid for returnees is barely sufficient to cover food costs, and it undermines efforts to ensure stable reintegration, not to mention rent.
UNHCR emphasized that the current situation for refugees around the world is surprising. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump’s administration suspends UNHCR funding. Prior to that, the US had donated about $2 billion a year to the UNHCR budget.
MNA/