Briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Security Council, 9905th meeting

Grandi warns of "a season of war" and collapsing humanitarian support

UN Refugee Chief Filippo Grandi tells the Council that 123 million people are now forcibly displaced, citing an alarming rise in global conflict, disregard for humanitarian norms, and a retreat from aid. He warns that cuts to funding are forcing agencies like UNHCR to scale back by up to one-third, stating, “We will do less with less,” and calls on Member States to take calculated risks to pursue peace and protect the displaced.

 

Algeria calls for reaffirming the Global Compact and protecting refugees' rights

Algeria expresses alarm at the systematic rise in displacement, calling it "unacceptable." It stresses the need for predictable funding, stronger protection of refugees, and combating xenophobia and misinformation against displaced people.

 

Russia criticizes politicization of refugee aid and highlights its role

Russia denounces the “politicization of refugee and internally displaced persons issues,” accusing some countries of applying double standards in funding and refugee policy. It highlights its support for refugees from Ukraine and Syria, criticizes sanctions affecting aid delivery, and calls attention to the plight of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, urging protection for UNRWA staff and civilians.

 

China urges urgent funding and political solutions

China warns that cuts to humanitarian aid will worsen displacement crises and calls on developed countries to meet their responsibilities. It emphasizes the need for post-conflict reconstruction to create conditions for refugees to return home.

 

United States calls for collective action to address root causes

The US stresses that "no one nation” can act alone to resolve displacement crises. It highlights efforts to stabilize Ukraine and Syria, emphasizing the importance of burden-sharing and protecting national sovereignty.

 

United Kingdom backs tackling causes of displacement and innovative solutions

The UK calls for greater efforts to resolve regional crises and disrupt people-smuggling networks. It highlights support for the Sustainable Responses Initiative and the upcoming review of the Global Compact for Refugees.

 

France warns of growing risks from funding shortfalls

France praises UNHCR’s work but warns that "drastic reductions in financing" risk new waves of displacement. It emphasizes support for the Global Compact on Refugees and urges a more coordinated international response.

 

Greece stresses the need for accountability and respect for humanitarian law

Greece underlines that conflicts share a "blatant disregard" for international humanitarian law, calling for stepped-up protection for refugees, especially women and children, and stronger international accountability.

 

Pakistan demands equitable burden-sharing and systemic reforms

Pakistan criticizes the "burden shifting" from rich to poorer nations and calls for the full operationalization of the Global Compact on Refugees. It urges greater humanitarian support and more opportunities for voluntary returns.

 

Somalia highlights erosion of humanitarian law and urges durable solutions

Somalia warns of rising civilian casualties and sexual violence against displaced women and girls. It stresses the need for safe, voluntary, and dignified returns and increased funding for humanitarian operations.

 

Panama calls displacement a situation of “historic proportions" and urges regional solidarity

Panama stresses that climate change and conflict are pushing displacement to historic levels. It highlights the plight of women refugees and calls for stronger regional and multilateral cooperation to manage migration flows.

 

Republic of Korea calls for flexible funding and sustained support for refugees

The Republic of Korea stresses that humanitarian budgets are under "extreme financial constraints" and urges diversification of funding sources to stabilize the global response. It highlights its fivefold increase in annual contributions to UNHCR and calls for greater engagement from private donors. Korea emphasizes that safe, voluntary, and dignified returns must remain a central goal for resolving displacement crises, noting examples like Syria.

 

Guyana warns that humanitarian needs far outpace available funding

Guyana notes that only 14% of UNHCR’s 2025 appeal has been funded. It stresses that rising displacement impacts all countries and calls for investment in development and conflict prevention.

 

Denmark pledges support and warns of a "reset" of the humanitarian system

Denmark reaffirms its status as a top donor to UNHCR but warns that humanitarian agencies face drastic cuts. It urges the Council to uphold core humanitarian principles and focus on durable, sustainable solutions.

 

Slovenia calls for action on climate displacement and ending statelessness

Slovenia urges protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, calls for climate resilience to be integrated into conflict prevention, and reaffirms its commitment to ending statelessness.

 

Sierra Leone highlights disproportionate impact on women and girls

Sierra Leone draws attention to rising gender-based violence among displaced populations and calls for stronger protection frameworks and accountability for attacks against humanitarian workers.

 

 

                

Security Council Hears Stark Warning from UN Refugee Chief on Displacement Crisis, Funding Shortfalls, and Erosion of International Protection Norms

NEW YORK, 28 April 2025 — Addressing a Security Council meeting under France’s presidency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, issued an urgent call for collective action to stem rising global displacement, warning that unchecked conflict, declining humanitarian funding, and the erosion of international humanitarian norms threaten to deepen crises worldwide.

Grandi, briefing the Council for what may be his final time as High Commissioner, described a world where "violence has become the defining currency of our age," with about 120 active conflicts driving the forced displacement of 123 million people.

Global Context: "A Season of War" and Dwindling Hope

Filippo Grandi described the current moment as "a season of war," where the "norms of international humanitarian law … are cast aside." From Sudan to Ukraine, from the Sahel to Myanmar, and from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Haiti, civilians were trapped in a cycle of violence, disease, starvation, and sexual atrocities, with displacement emerging as "the most visible symptom" of conflict and persecution.

Grandi pointed to Sudan as a stark example, noting that one-third of Sudan’s population had been displaced in just two years. Crossing the border into Chad meant leaving fear behind, he recounted from conversations with Sudanese families, underscoring the life-saving power of asylum.

He warned that neighbouring countries like Chad and South Sudan, already struggling with internal challenges, are hosting millions with vastly insufficient humanitarian financing — the latest refugee response appeal for Sudan remains "only 11% funded." Grandi stressed that while countries are making "the right decision" by keeping borders open, they cannot be left to bear the burden alone.

"Aid Is Stability"

In powerful closing remarks, Grandi cautioned against the global retrenchment from humanitarian aid. "Aid is stability," he said, warning that cuts to humanitarian budgets are "already having fatal consequences," abandoning displaced people, undermining fragile host communities.

"Freezing or cutting aid budgets," he said, "will ultimately undermine your own stability and multilateralism." Without urgent reversals, UNHCR could face up to a one-third reduction in operational capacity, drastically weakening global response efforts.

Global Compact on Refugees: A Vital Framework

Grandi highlighted the Global Compact on Refugees, adopted by the General Assembly in 2018, a toolbox for addressing modern displacement. He urged Council members to utilize its cooperative approaches and reminded them that forced displacement concerns every member of the Council, woven into each nation’s history and traditions.

Council Members Highlight Refugee Protections, Funding Shortfalls, and Political Solutions

In the ensuing debate, delegations echoed Grandi’s calls for increased support but also emphasized differing priorities.

Algeria emphasized that the displacement crisis reflects a "broader failure" of the international system and urged reaffirmation of the Global Compact on Refugees, stressing the need for predictable funding and decrying the abandonment of host communities. Algeria also called for combating xenophobia and misinformation targeting refugees.

Russia criticized the “politicization of refugee and internally displaced persons issues,” accusing some countries of applying double standards in funding and refugee policy. It highlighted its support for refugees from Ukraine and Syria, criticized sanctions affecting aid delivery, and called attention to the plight of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, urging protection for UNRWA staff and civilians.

China linked the rising displacement figures to "high geopolitical tensions, persistent unilateral bullying and shocks to the world economy" and criticized recent cuts to foreign aid. Urging developed countries to "shoulder their responsibilities," China emphasized that addressing displacement required dialogue, negotiation, and post-conflict recovery.  

The United States agreed that the Council must return to its original purpose of maintaining peace and security. Stressing the need for "collective responsibility," Washington highlighted its longstanding humanitarian leadership but called for broader burden-sharing. The US representative said that solutions in countries including Syria, Sudan, and Ukraine could pave the way for millions to return home.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom outlined its priorities for action: tackling root causes of displacement, supporting regional crisis solutions, and advancing sustainable responses. The UK voiced strong support for the upcoming Global Compact for Refugees stocktaking meeting.

Frontline States Warn of Mounting Pressures on Host Communities

Representatives from frontline and host countries emphasized the disproportionate burden borne by low- and middle-income nations.

Greece, as a frontline European Union member, urged an increase in humanitarian efforts to support refugees, displaced individuals, and the countries hosting them, and concrete actions to uphold international humanitarian law and address the root causes of the refugee and displacement crisis. It called for "effective returns" and condemned "the instrumentalization of human suffering" by smuggling networks.

Panama emphasized the "historic proportions" of displacement in the Americas, citing Venezuela and Haiti, and stressed that "peace is for the strong, not the weak." It called for renewed commitment to humanitarian principles and raised concerns about the environmental degradation driving displacement.

Somalia warned of the "erosion of international humanitarian law" and stressed the need for addressing root causes of displacement while ensuring the protection of women and children and other vulnerable groups, who face rising levels of sexual violence in crisis contexts.

Sierra Leone, highlighting that Africa hosts more than one-third of the world’s forcibly displaced population, urged immediate attention to gender-based violence among displaced communities. It praised regional efforts to combat statelessness and called for sustained humanitarian funding.

Burden Sharing, Root Causes, and Sustainable Solutions

Several delegations underlined the need to shift from ad hoc humanitarian responses to sustainable, burden-shared solutions.

Pakistan delivered a pointed intervention, criticizing developed countries for "burden shifting rather than burden sharing." Stressing that developing countries host 85% of the world’s refugees, Pakistan called for humanitarian support "through grants and not loans” and expanded legal migration pathways.

Guyana warned of the growing humanitarian funding gap, noting that only 14% of UNHCR’s 2025 needs have been met. It called for a "comprehensive and strategic" approach that addresses both humanitarian needs and conflict prevention.

The Republic of Korea stressed that humanitarian budgets are under "extreme financial constraints" and urged diversification of funding sources to stabilize the global response. It highlighted its fivefold increase in annual contributions to UNHCR and called for greater engagement from private donors.

Denmark underscored the urgent need to protect the humanitarian system, warning that agencies like UNHCR face a "dramatic organizational adjustment." While pledging continued support, Denmark stressed that future humanitarian approaches must preserve "the core principles of independence, impartiality, neutrality, and humanity."

Slovenia emphasized the need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and insisted that climate-induced displacement must be integrated into peacebuilding frameworks. It also reaffirmed its commitment to ending statelessness and enhancing development assistance for conflict-affected regions.

Grandi: “We Will Do Less With Less”

Responding to member states at the conclusion of the meeting, Filippo Grandi thanked delegations for their support and issued a grave warning: without urgent reversals in funding trends, agencies like UNHCR would face a "one-third reduction" in their capacity.

"We will not be able to do more with less," he said bluntly. "We will do less with less."

Grandi stressed that humanitarian retrenchment will "destabilize fragile regions" and weaken responses to crises, ultimately threatening peace and security. He urged the Council to take "calculated risks" to pursue solutions in crises like Syria, Myanmar, and Sudan, and emphasized that the cost of inaction would be far higher than the risks of engagement.

 

               

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Background:  

Global Refugee Situation – April 2025  

 

1. Record-High Displacement 

• 122.6 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide due to war, persecution, violence, and human rights violations, marking a 5% increase from the end of 2023. 

• This equates to 1 in every 67 people globally being displaced. 

• Approximately 87% of these individuals are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. 
  Source: UNHCR 2024 Mid-Year Trends Report 

 

2. Major Displacement Drivers 

• Significant displacement has been driven by conflicts in: 
  - Sudan 
  - Democratic Republic of the Congo 
  - Myanmar 
  - Ukraine 
  - Haiti 

Source: UNHCR 2024 Mid-Year Trends Report 

 

3. Sudan Crisis 

• The conflict in Sudan has led to a substantial refugee crisis, affecting neighboring countries. 

• UNHCR and partners have launched a regional response plan to address the needs of those affected. 

Source: Sudan Regional Refugee Response 2024 

 

4. UNHCR's 2024 Global Appeal 

• UNHCR has outlined its plans and funding requirements for 2024 to protect, assist, and empower displaced and stateless people. 

• The appeal emphasizes the need for international support to address the growing displacement crisis. 

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2024 

 

UNHCR Related Links: 

 

• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) 

• Press releases related to UNHCR and refugees  

 

  UN Web TV: 

• Past Briefings by UNHCR representatives 

• Past meetings focused on refugees