UNHCR’s first former refugee chief warns of a harsh moment as support drops
Barham Salih, who began leading the U.N. refugee agency on Jan. 1, says the world is entering a difficult period for displaced people as immigration crackdowns grow and funding falls. He urged governments to protect the 1951 Refugee Convention and called for more cost-effective ways to assist refugees.
A new UNHCR chief confronts rising need and shrinking resources
The head of the U.N. refugee agency is warning that the global system for protecting displaced people is under severe pressure, describing the current landscape as one of the most difficult in recent history. Barham Salih, the first former refugee to lead UNHCR, said the combination of growing hostility toward migrants and declining financial support is forcing the agency to rethink how it delivers help.
Salih took office on January 1, 2026, and has framed his early message around safeguarding international legal protections for refugees while adapting to a harsher political and funding environment. He argued that the 1951 Refugee Convention remains a cornerstone for protection and should not be weakened even as some governments seek to redefine asylum and restrict pathways to safety.
Funding cuts collide with record displacement
According to UNHCR figures cited in the interview, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide remains extraordinarily high, and the agency must support tens of millions with fewer resources. Salih noted that U.S. contributions declined sharply from 2024 to 2025, even though the United States still ranks as UNHCR’s largest donor.
He said the agency will have to become more inventive and cost-effective, focusing on delivering protection and assistance in ways that reduce dependency and maximize impact. Salih also emphasized that refugees should not be viewed only as victims but as people with skills and potential if given protection and opportunity.
Personal history shapes the message
Salih drew on his own experience of fleeing Iraq as a teenager, later living in the United Kingdom, and eventually returning to serve in senior political roles. He said that background influences his approach to humanitarian work and his emphasis on dignity, legal safeguards and practical solutions.