Geneva:The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, has raised concerns over a significant funding shortfall that is set to impact UNHCR's humanitarian missions worldwide.
According to Qatar News Agency, during the UNHCR's Executive Committee session in Geneva, Salih revealed that the agency has secured only USD 3 billion, which accounts for 35 percent of the required USD 8.5 billion funding for 2026.
Salih mentioned that the funding projections for the next year are uncertain, currently estimated at USD 2.68 billion. However, there is hope for improvement following the Pledging Conference in Geneva in December.
The financial constraints have led to one of the largest restructurings in the agency's history, reducing the number of employees from 20,000 in 2024 to approximately 12,000. Salih emphasized that restructuring alone cannot resolve the financial challenges, which are already affecting refugees and humanitarian partners.
He stated, "There is a difference between doing more with less and being asked to do the impossible," highlighting the growing difficulties faced by the UNHCR.