UN agency warns funding crisis could leave 8.3 million people without aid

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has issued a dire warning about a funding crisis that could leave nearly 8.3 million refugees and displaced individuals without essential aid this year. The agency's report, released on Tuesday, reveals that UNHCR is facing one of its most severe funding gaps, amounting to US$5.789 billion, following substantial cuts by donor countries.

As of July, the agency had only received 32% of the US$8.505 billion required for 2026, while the global population of forcibly displaced people and stateless individuals continues to approach record levels. UNHCR anticipates that this year, the total displaced population will reach 131.2 million, up from 129.4 million at the end of the previous year.

The report highlights catastrophic consequences in countries hosting large displaced populations. In Chad, conflict from neighboring Sudan has caused 319,000 people to face registration delays, and 200,000 women and girls could lose access to safe spaces and prevention programs. In Sudan, the world's worst displacement crisis, 140,000 refugees and asylum-seekers remained unregistered by mid-year due to suspended registration activities since the first five months of 2026.

Afghanistan, experiencing a surge of one million new refugees this year, has seen its UNHCR grants for returns reduced from US$375 to US$170 per person. UNHCR emphasizes that further cost-saving measures, already implemented since 2025, including workforce reduction by 33%, closure of 140 offices, and discontinuation of operations in 15 countries, cannot bridge the funding shortfall.

Additionally, the agency notes that a larger share of donor funding is now earmarked (51% in 2026, up from 19% in 2019), diminishing its capacity to allocate resources to the most urgent priorities. UNHCR warns that dwindling funding is gradually undermining the protection system, heightening the risk of undocumented refugees and leaving survivors of gender-based violence without necessary support.