UN Refugee Agency Cuts 8,000 Staff Amid Funding Crisis

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih announced a major reorganization of the UNHCR in Geneva to combat a severe funding crisis. The agency has secured only $3 billion, or 35% of the $8.5 billion required for 2026, as the number of displaced people globally has reached 117 million. Salih attributed the shortfall in part to aid cuts by the United States under President Donald Trump, with U.S. contributions dropping from $812 million last year to $89 million.

To manage the deficit, the UNHCR executed one of the largest restructurings in its history, reducing its workforce from 20,000 employees in 2024 to under 12,000. While the agency focused cuts on headquarters and regional offices to preserve frontline operations, the budget squeeze has already caused critical service failures. Refugee registration has been suspended for tens of thousands of people in Ethiopia, and medical and legal care for 50,000 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Chad and Sudan is under threat.

Looking ahead, the agency forecasts funding of less than $2.7 billion for 2027. The Americas face the steepest projected budget reduction, totaling approximately $485 million, or 32%. Salih warned that the global support system for asylum-seekers risks collapse, stating that "efficiency has its limits" and that protection systems are beginning to fail. He also introduced an initiative to halve the number of refugees in protracted displacement by 2035, emphasizing that success must be measured by genuine improvements in lives rather than reduced assistance.