GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations refugee chief issued a stark warning on Thursday, stating that severe funding cuts from donors are endangering millions of lives. He expressed concerns that women refugees are particularly vulnerable to rape, while children are being forced into trafficking and early marriages.”The drastic funding cuts in the humanitarian sector are putting countless lives in peril. The repercussions for individuals fleeing peril will be immediate and catastrophic,” stated Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.Grandi’s remarks mark his strongest stance yet on the impacts of the aid budget cuts under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, although no specific donors were named in the statement.UNHCR provides aid to millions of individuals worldwide escaping conflict and persecution. The number of forcibly displaced people is currently at a historic high, with projections indicating a further increase to 123 million individuals.Grandi emphasized that refugee women and girls facing a heightened risk of rape are losing access to crucial protective services, while children are being deprived of education and left vulnerable to child labor and trafficking.”This is not simply a shortage of funds – it is a crisis of accountability. The consequences of inaction will result in suffering, instability, and shattered futures,” he cautioned.In 2024, UNHCR received over $2 billion in donations from the United States, constituting 40% of its total contributions. The agency has acknowledged facing financial strain and has implemented austerity measures to address its cash flow issues.A spokesperson for UNHCR confirmed on Thursday that over $300 million of planned activities have been suspended as part of cost-cutting initiatives.(Reporting by Emma Farge, editing by Rachel More and Frances Kerry)
