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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih stated that the agency will be forced to lay off more staff and implement urgent reforms in light of declining funding and foreign aid.
In a letter to member states, he said the agency has "no choice" because it expects available funds this year to be approximately 15% lower than in 2025, reaching just over $3 billion. The UNHCR had already announced the elimination of thousands of jobs last year.
This announcement comes at a time when the number of people displaced by wars and persecution around the world continues to rise. The agency works with individuals forced to leave their homes in Ukraine, Sudan, and other conflict-ridden countries.
In the letter dated May 15, Salih stated, "It is becoming increasingly clear that our projected financial situation for this year requires us to take some urgent steps."
"Severe Impact" on Millions of Displaced Persons
The letter noted that the UNHCR, which relies mostly on voluntary donations, suffered from a decline in available funding in 2025 by about 30% compared to 2024, after the United States and other donors reduced their contributions and some diverted funds toward defense.