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UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, warned that millions of other displaced persons in need of coverage and assistance, as well as their host communities, are feeling the impact of a large lack of funds as the COVID-19 crisis continues to generate humanitarian wishes around the world. the world.
To date, the firm has earned only 49% ($4. 5 billion) of the $9. 1 billion needed for its global operations this year. The consequences of this investment hole are devastating in low- and middle-income countries, which lately hold more than 85% of the world’s refugees. In many of these countries, the pandemic has destabilized economies, exacerbated internal displacement and reduced asylum.
A report published through UNHCR describes the COVID-19 pandemic as a “force multiplier,” expanding the wishes of the displaced population, adding refugees in many countries, while making those desires more difficult to fulfill.
The scarcity of resources for humanitarian operations can have devastating effects on millions of people around the world, putting women and young people in a specific situation at risk and disrupting important services, adding health, shelter, water and sanitation, and many other aid programmes.
The report highlights 10 conditions affected by investment shortages: Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Central Mediterranean Route, Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Venezuela. These conditions represent 56% of the annual budget.
While some cases of underfunding are due to new desires resulting from COVID-19, many others pre-pandemic and show that they have an effect on the chronic lack of funding it can have on the lives of displaced populations and host communities.
“As violence, persecution and civil unrest continue to uproot millions of others, the coronavirus pandemic is destabilizing entire sectors of the economy, and millions of other people who depend on fragile income are now at risk,” said UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. “In these unprecedented times, the world will have to expand its reach by ensuring that displaced populations and their hosts benefited but under-funded are not forgotten. Now it’s time to step up support. “
Sub-investment has already put an end to many programmes. Other essential activities, such as the protection of children, for survivors of sexual violence and termination, fitness services, schooling and water, sanitation and hygiene activities are about to be cancelled or reduced. if no further investments are to be made soon.
For example, child coverage and psychosocial care in Ugandan camps hosting South Sudanese refugees had to be cut this year due to lack of funding. More discounts on the number of social staff will result in threatened youth not receiving follow-up home visits.
Without sufficient funding, UNHCR will also have or avoid wintering assistance to other vulnerable displaced persons in Syria and Syrian refugees in the region, adding money transfers and the distribution of aid pieces this winter.
Lack of investment has already forced UNHCR to finalize its assistance at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, in March. A programme to provide medical devices similar to cancer remedies has benefited both Afghan refugees and members of the host community.
From September 2020, lack of investment will prevent UNHCR from helping Venezuelan families with money, vouchers and essential items at the main borders and urban spaces of Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a $223 million investment hole has forced UNHCR to cut programmes in several sectors: emergency shelters for displaced families in South Kivu province and the planned structure of study rooms for young Congolese refugees in Burundi and Zambia suspended were discontinued in January.
In addition to additional funding, UNHCR asks donors for flexibility when making contributions so that resources can be allocated where they are most needed.
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© UNHCR 2001-2020
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