The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that cuts in humanitarian aid budgets are leaving millions of displaced people without assistance, amidst active wars and contexts of extreme violence like those in Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Libya, and others.
The warning was issued during a conference in Geneva by the organization’s Director of External Relations, Dominique Hyde, who reported that programs totaling over 1.4 billion dollars have been closed or suspended.
Direct Impact on Essential Services
According to UNHCR:
- 11.6 million refugees and displaced persons are at risk of losing access to vital services
- In Sudan, 60% of new displaced persons lack basic shelter
- In South Sudan, 75% of safe spaces for women and girls have closed: more than 80,000 women without access to medical care, psychosocial support, or legal protection
- Fundamental services affected: refugee registration, child protection, legal counseling, gender-based violence response
“Behind these numbers are real lives at stake,” emphasized Hyde. “Families are facing impossible decisions: feeding their children, buying medicine, or paying rent.”
Consequences of Financial Collapse and Lack of Humanitarian Aid
The main cuts come from the reduction in foreign aid from Sweden, France, Japan, and the United States, which has forced UNHCR to redefine priorities without the possibility of implementing a comprehensive contingency plan.
The lack of resources is already leading to:
- Increase in human trafficking along the route between Egypt, Chad, and Libya
- Rise in precarious Mediterranean crossings to Europe
- A 170% increase in Sudanese arrivals on the continent compared to the first half of 2024
Institutional Risks and Prolonged Effects
One in three of UNHCR’s 550 offices worldwide is facing operational reductions, affecting:
- Strengthening of asylum systems
- Legal regularization processes
- Socioeconomic inclusion of people on the move
In countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Mexico, the lack of legal status worsens the work exclusion, exploitation, and structural poverty of thousands of refugee persons.
Perspectives and Urgent Call
By 2025, UNHCR needs 10.6 billion dollars, but has only received 23% of that amount. The organization assures they have the systems and partnerships to quickly resume assistance if the funds are activated.
“The increase in global forced displacement and the drastic drop in funding are creating a lethal cocktail that puts millions of lives at risk,” Hyde concluded.
Cover photo: AFP/Getty Images
