Overview
- The UN refugee agency marked the 75th anniversary on Tuesday by defending the 1951 Convention and warning that record displacement is colliding with severe funding shortfalls.
- Global forced displacement stands at about 117.8 million people, with roughly 70% displaced for more than five years and most hosted in low- and middle-income countries.
- UNHCR funding has dropped from roughly €4.3 billion in 2024 to about €3.4 billion so far in 2026, driven by steep cuts from major donors including a sharp decline in U.S. contributions and a 2025 German reduction to €163 million.
- Several wealthy states have tightened asylum access through faster returns, new EU rules and restricted family-reunification visas, moves that experts say reduce legal protection and have already led to reduced food, health and schooling in camps such as those in Chad.
- Critics say UNHCR faces a dilemma between preserving legal protections and advising governments on migration management, a tension that shapes how the Convention and non‑refoulement are applied today.