UNHCR Reduces Operations Amid Severe Drop in Funding
(MENAFN) The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, revealed on Monday that following a thorough internal review, it will drastically reduce its activities due to a severe drop in humanitarian funding compared to 2024.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, explained the situation in a statement: "In light of difficult financial realities, UNHCR is compelled to reduce the overall scale of its operations. We will focus our efforts on activities that have the greatest impact for refugees, supported by streamlined headquarters and regional bureau structures."
As part of its cost-saving strategy, UNHCR has shuttered or downsized offices around the world and cut nearly half of the senior staff positions at its Geneva headquarters and regional offices.
The agency plans to eliminate about 3,500 staff roles, with many temporary employees already departing, according to the official announcement. These reductions are expected to lower global staffing expenses by roughly 30%.
Despite concentrating resources in areas with the most pressing refugee crises, critical programs in financial aid, healthcare, education, and water and sanitation have also experienced cuts.
UNHCR emphasized collaboration with partners and host nations to lessen the impact and is investigating innovative approaches such as sharing office space with other UN bodies and leveraging technology to boost efficiency.
Grandi expressed appreciation for donors who have provided early or increased funding this year: "We are very grateful to the donors who have stepped up or made early contributions this year," he said. He added, "Aid brings a degree of stability in deeply volatile situations. Investing in aid not only saves lives; it also avoids higher costs down the line."
This year, UNHCR anticipates its budget will return to levels seen a decade ago, despite the forcibly displaced population nearly doubling to over 122 million.
The agency faces the dual challenge of meeting soaring humanitarian needs with sharply reduced financial resources, a predicament that risks deepening vulnerabilities for millions worldwide.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
