Amman — The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) revealed in its annual report, the Global Appeal 2026, that it requires USD 280 million to fund its operations in Jordan next year, compared to USD 372.8 million allocated for 2025—an estimated 25% decrease.
اضافة اعلان
The Global Appeal is the organization’s most important document, outlining its humanitarian plans and funding needs, in addition to providing a comprehensive analysis of the conditions of refugees, displaced persons, and stateless populations worldwide.
UNHCR described 2026 as “a year of determination, strategic focus, and operational reorganization,” announcing a budget of USD 8.505 billion—down by more than USD 2.1 billion compared to 2025, a drop of 20%. The agency clarified that this reduction does not reflect a decrease in global needs, but rather a strategic shift in planning and implementation mechanisms.
According to the report, the number of forcibly displaced and stateless people worldwide is expected to reach 136 million, while 121 million had already been displaced by mid-2025 due to conflict, persecution, and violence. Humanitarian needs remain high amid limited access and rising costs.
Although global displacement fell by 7% last year—particularly with the beginning of refugee returns to areas such as Syria—available financial resources decreased at a faster rate. By the end of October, UNHCR’s available funding had reached only USD 3.452 billion, covering 33% of its required USD 10.604 billion. This shortfall forced the agency to cut expenditures and make “difficult trade-offs” across its operations.
The funding landscape remains heavily reliant on contributions from governments and the European Union (79%), followed by the private sector (16%), UN pooled funds (3%), and the UN regular budget, which accounts for just 2%.
During the same period last year, total funding stood at USD 4.614 billion—43% of needs—meaning a decline of USD 1.162 billion (25%) compared to last year, returning to funding levels similar to those of a decade ago, despite the number of people in need having doubled since then.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) projections indicate further declines next year, with a shift toward more targeted funding.
The report emphasized that the current year exposed the severe humanitarian risks posed by underfunding, threatening the stability of host communities and increasing the dangers associated with perilous refugee journeys.
As a result of declining resources, UNHCR was forced to close, merge, or downsize 185 of its 550 offices worldwide, relocate staff to partner offices, and reduce the size of its headquarters and regional offices. Overall, more than 5,200 staff members lost their jobs—representing 26% of the global workforce. These cuts reduced UNHCR expenditures by more than USD 1 billion but left 11.6 million refugees, displaced people, and stateless individuals without essential protection and direct support services.
According to the report, the human cost of this gap became immediately visible in the form of reduced livelihood programs, delayed resilience-building projects, limited monitoring and protection services, and disruptions to investments in long-term solutions.
In the Global Appeal 2026, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi warned that millions will face another year marked by fragility and uncertainty. He stressed that despite this year’s challenges, UNHCR has not retreated; rather, it has adapted and expanded its response. Grandi also highlighted that supporting the voluntary return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons offers a critical opportunity to help restore their lives and strengthen regional stability, while continuing efforts in protracted crises such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.
