Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner for Refugees of the United Nations, delivered his final presentation to the United Nations General Assembly, in which he advocated for additional financing and enhanced protection for displaced populations all around the world.
The global number of refugees and people fleeing conflict, violence, and persecution has decreased for the first time in nearly a decade, according to Grandi, who brought this to everyone’s attention.
—from 123 million at the end of 2024 to about 117 million today.
“This may seem surprising, because the world has not become safer,” he said, pointing to ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Myanmar.
The majority of the people who returned to their countries of origin, particularly Syria and Afghanistan, did so voluntarily despite the ongoing instability in those countries. This has been a major contributor to the reduction.
“The voluntary nature of returns is a key distinction,” Grandi explained. “Statistics do not always capture the difference between voluntary and forced returns.”
He pointed out that after the fall of the Assad administration in December 2024, more than one million refugees have returned to Syria, and that two million individuals who were internally displaced have returned to their towns.
Providing assistance to Afghanistan and Syria
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) personnel are now providing cash assistance, housing rehabilitation, paperwork, and other important services in Syria. Grandi emphasised the importance of maintaining international support in this region. He asked donors, notably those from the Gulf region, Europe, and international financial institutions, to make investments in infrastructure, public services, reforming the security system, and economic recovery.
The protection efforts in Afghanistan, particularly those pertaining to women, have been compromised as a result of forced repatriation from Iran and Pakistan. Grandi issued a warning that upon their return, these refugees will be subjected to rampant abuses of human rights and discrimination.
Urgent Deficiencies in Funding
When asked about the financial problem that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is currently facing, Grandi stated that the organisation is facing a shortfall of $1.3 billion, with contributions of less than $4 billion projected this year against a budget of $10.6 billion. In an effort to close the gap, he invited donors to make early pledges that were flexible for the year 2026.
Despite continuous hostilities and crises, Grandi, who will be leaving the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) after a decade in the job, has called for global cooperation to guarantee that refugees receive protection, services, and opportunities.
Helping to Safeguard Refugees During Their Travels
Grandi referred to the phenomena of displacement as a “complex phenomenon,” pointing out that it is possible for someone to leave a country while others are returning to it, as is the case in Sudan and South Sudan. He emphasised that the solution is not limits or pushbacks, but rather early initiatives that provide protection and possibilities to those who have been displaced and communities that are hosting them along migration pathways.
