⏱ 1 min 30 read
Background
Former Iraqi president Barham Salih has headed the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) since January 2026, succeeding Filippo Grandi. He was addressing the agency's executive committee, meeting in Geneva, for the first time.
The key points
Barham Salih warned that UNHCR's restructuring can only partly offset the decline in international aid. The agency has received only 3 billion dollars for 2026, or 35% of the 8.5 billion required.
More than 117 million people are displaced worldwide by conflict and other threats. UNHCR has responded to 22 emergencies this year in 18 countries.
Key figures
- Funding received for 2026: 3 billion dollars, or 35% of needs.
- Proposed budget for 2027: 7.1 billion dollars, down 16%.
- Jobs cut since 2024: around 8,000, leaving a workforce of just under 12,000.
- International humanitarian aid in 2025: 33.3 billion dollars, against 47.5 billion in 2022, according to Alnap.
What it means for businesses
UNHCR is introducing a leaner structure in Geneva, with 88% of its staff based outside the city. In Chad, services for unaccompanied children are at risk; in Ethiopia, refugee registration has been halted.
Who says what
Barham Salih distinguishes between "doing more with less" and being asked to do the impossible. He considers the 1951 Refugee Convention as vital as ever.
What's next
The executive committee is due to approve the 2027 budget. UNHCR hopes for new commitments at its pledging conference in December.
