UNHCR Funding Crisis Could Leave 8.3 Million Refugees Without Aid

New York — Nearly 8.3 million refugees and forcibly displaced people could lose access to essential assistance this year as the United Nations refugee agency faces a severe funding shortfall, the UNHCR warned Tuesday. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said it is facing a $5.789 billion funding gap for 2026, with humanitarian needs continuing to rise while donor contributions decline.

According to a new UNHCR report cited by Reuters, the agency had received only 32 percent of the $8.505 billion it estimated it would need for 2026 as of July. Funding available to UNHCR fell by 24 percent between 2024 and 2025, contributing to what the agency described as one of the most serious financial crises in its history. UNHCR expects the number of people under its mandate to reach 131.2 million by the end of 2026, up from 129.4 million at the end of last year.

The agency warned that further reductions could affect refugee registration, child-protection programs and services for survivors of gender-based violence. In Chad, where large numbers of refugees have fled violence in neighboring Sudan, approximately 319,000 people face delays in registration, while around 200,000 women and girls could lose access to safe spaces and prevention programs.

Sudan remains one of the world’s largest displacement emergencies. UNHCR said approximately 140,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Sudan were still unregistered by the middle of the year after registration operations were suspended for several months. The funding crisis is also affecting assistance for people returning to Afghanistan.

UNHCR grants for returning Afghans have been reduced from $375 to $170 per person, while more than one million people have returned to the country this year following forced or voluntary returns from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. The agency has already taken significant cost-cutting measures. Its workforce was reduced by 33 percent in 2025, while offices were closed in 140 locations and operations were discontinued in 15 countries compared with 2024.

UNHCR also warned that an increasing proportion of donor funding is earmarked for specific purposes, limiting the agency’s ability to redirect resources toward emergencies as they arise. The proportion of tightly earmarked donor funding has risen to 51 percent in 2026, compared with 19 percent five years ago, according to the agency.

UNHCR said the consequences of continued underfunding could extend beyond reduced services, potentially weakening refugee protection systems and leaving more displaced people without documentation or access to essential support. The warning comes as global displacement remains near record levels, putting additional pressure on governments and humanitarian organizations already struggling with limited resources.