8.3 mn refugees at risk due to 'severe' funding cuts: UN
Summary
Nearly 8.3 million refugees and other forcibly displaced people are at risk of losing UNHCR assistance as severe funding cuts weaken protection services worldwide. The agency says its available funding has fallen sharply, forcing major reductions in staffing and critical support in countries including Chad, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iraq and Syria.
Key Points
- UNHCR warns that nearly 8.3 million forcibly displaced people could lose access to vital assistance because of a worsening funding shortfall.
- The agency says its funding has fallen from $5.2 billion in 2024 to $3.9 billion in 2025, with only 32 percent of its $8.5 billion need received by the end of July.
- Protection and child services are already being cut in countries such as Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan, while economic support and return assistance are also at risk in Iraq and Syria.
- UNHCR has shed nearly 5,000 jobs in 2025, more than a quarter of its workforce, as major donors reduce support.
