UN warns funding shortfall could jeopardize aid for 120 million refugees on World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day on 21 June commemorates the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and highlights the scale of forced displacement. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports roughly 120 million people are displaced worldwide, including over 43 million recognized refugees and more than 60 million internally displaced persons, with the largest origin groups from Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN‑affiliated UNO‑Flüchtlingshilfe warns that a severe financing gap threatens humanitarian assistance. UNHCR’s 2025 budget was only US$3.5 billion – the lowest level in a decade – while the number of displaced persons has almost doubled. For 2026 the agency seeks US$8.5 billion, about 20 % less than the previous year’s request, leaving millions at risk of losing essential support. The appeal calls for increased donations and civil‑society involvement to prevent a shortfall in life‑saving aid.