The Trump administration has weighed cutting ties with the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) over a dispute regarding a deputy high commissioner appointment, prompting urgent lobbying from diplomats and aid groups. This potential withdrawal threatens UNHCR's funding and the global refugee system, which is already strained by conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.
The Trump administration is considering cutting ties and funding to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), its largest donor, prompting a diplomatic campaign to maintain support. This deliberation follows a dispute over the appointment of UNHCR's deputy high commissioner, with the US-backed candidate being overlooked. A withdrawal would severely weaken UNHCR amidst record global displacement.
The UN refugee agency reported a decrease in forced displacement for the first time in ten years, with 117.8 million people displaced by conflict or persecution in 2025. Despite this decline, the agency warns the number remains unacceptably high, citing ongoing conflicts like the Iran war and challenges in voluntary returns.
The UN refugee agency says the Iran war has pushed shipping rates up by nearly 18%, severely impacting aid delivery to refugees across Africa and the wider region. Transport capacity has dropped from 97% to 77% since January, with some routes more than doubling in cost. The agency is rerouting cargo via Jordan's Aqaba and the Cape of Good Hope, adding up to 25 days to delivery times. UNHCR needs $8.5 billion for this year but has only received 23% funding.
