Disaster compounded after United States, which supplied 40 p.c of UNHCR funding final yr, slashed its contribution.
Greater than 11 million refugees threat shedding entry to humanitarian support owing to a “dramatic” funding disaster, in response to the United Nations refugee company.
The extent of UNHCR’s funding shortfall was revealed in a report launched on Friday, which mentioned it had thus far obtained solely 23 p.c of this yr’s purpose of $10.6bn, projecting an total finances of solely $3.5bn by the top of the yr to fulfill the wants of 122 million individuals.
“Our funding scenario is dramatic,” Dominique Hyde, director of exterior relations for UNHCR, mentioned.
“We concern that as much as 11.6 million refugees and other people pressured to flee are shedding entry to humanitarian help supplied by UNHCR.”
Whereas international locations which have slashed contributions weren’t named within the report, the disaster has been compounded by a serious discount in funding from the USA, which supplied 40 p.c – greater than $2bn – of the company’s complete donations final yr.
Since taking workplace in January, President Donald Trump’s administration has made funding cuts to the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) and its support programmes worldwide in what it says is a part of its broader plan to take away wasteful spending.
UNHCR mentioned it has needed to cease or droop about $1.4bn price of support programmes, together with a 60 p.c discount in monetary support and emergency reduction provides in lots of international locations, together with Sudan, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Vital areas similar to medical support, training, shelter, vitamin, and safety are among the many companies struggling deep cuts, mentioned the report, entitled “On the Brink: The devastating toll of support cuts on individuals pressured to flee”.
In Bangladesh, the place Rohingya refugees have lived for years in overcrowded camps, training for some 230,000 kids is susceptible to being suspended.
Girls and women are disproportionately affected by UNHCR funding cuts, with the company having to chop one quarter of its assist for programmes on gender-based violence.
Girls and women in Afghanistan are the toughest hit by cuts, in response to the report.
“Safety actions have been slashed by over 50 p.c, undermining programmes on ladies’s empowerment, psychological well being and prevention and response to gender-based violence,” mentioned Hyde.
Globally, UNHCR is downsizing by a 3rd, reducing 3,500 workers positions at its Geneva headquarters and in regional places of work.
The report comes after the UN’s 2025 Global AIDS Update warned final week that Trump’s halt to overseas funding may reverse “a long time of progress” on HIV/AIDS. If funding shouldn’t be changed, the world may see six million further HIV infections and 4 million extra AIDS-related deaths by 2029, it mentioned.