GENEVA: The United Nations refugee agency has warned that it is in dire need of $400 million by the end of the year to carry out its operations, Western media reported on Wednesday.
UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi addressing the opening of the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva said that humanitarian agencies are facing shortage of funds. He called on donors to strengthen their support.
The UN official said that UNHCR alone is lacking $400 million by the end of this year with the minimum of needed resources.
He added conflicts in the world such as Russia-Ukraine war, the civil war in Sudan and a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and record displacement have fueled the financial crisis for the UN refugee agency.
He pointed out that the number of people displaced across the world passed 114 million by the end of September.
Major human catastrophe unfolding in Gaza Strip
Grandi noted that a major human catastrophe is unfolding in the Gaza Strip. He regretted that the Security Council has failed to stop the violence in Gaza so far.
According to the Gaza health ministry at least 18,608, Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardment since October 7, mostly women and children.
Grandi appealed to the global community not to ignore humanitarian and refugee crises in Gaza.
He asked the world to remember the plight of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, and the millions who have fled due to conflict in Syria, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and across the Sahel.
It is pertinent to mention that more than 3,000 people, including heads of state and government and more than 300 refugees, are taking part in the second edition of the forum, which will conclude on Friday.
