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UNHCR warns $1.4 billion in program cuts could leave up to 11.6 million refugees without assistance
Summary
UN Refugee Agency analysis shows deep cuts to essential programs and warns millions of refugees risk losing access to aid this year.
The U.N. refugee agency said Friday that cuts to humanitarian budgets could mean up to 11.6 million refugees and other displaced people lose access to direct assistance from UNHCR this year.
The agency’s analysis, released this week, estimated that about $1.4 billion of essential programs have been cut or put on hold, representing roughly a third of those reached by UNHCR last year. UNHCR told reporters the cuts have forced it to pause movements of new arrivals from border areas to safer locations in countries such as Chad and South Sudan and have left thousands stranded in remote locations.
Why it matters: UNHCR said that funding shortfalls are driving operational reductions that increase protection and survival risks, particularly for women and children. The agency pointed to rising malnutrition rates in some reception centers in Uganda and limited access to clean water and food in other host areas.
UNHCR’s report is available online, the U.N. spokesperson said. The briefing did not announce fresh donor commitments or new reallocations; U.N. officials urged governments and donors to restore funding for programs facing cuts.
