Geneva: The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has raised concerns that the majority of countries sheltering refugees are stretched beyond their capacity and in urgent need of international support to sustain basic services such as education, healthcare, and housing.
Marking its 75th anniversary, the agency emphasized that global commitment to protecting people fleeing war and persecution is waning. Elizabeth Tan, UNHCR’s Director of International Protection, warned that the right to asylum is in jeopardy if wealthier nations do not step up to share responsibility.
“The safety refugees seek in neighbouring nations is becoming increasingly fragile,” Tan said, highlighting that asylum must not become a casualty of global indifference.
Tan also drew attention to the plight of approximately 12,000 Central African refugees currently in Chad and Cameroon who wish to return home but face obstacles due to lack of transportation and reintegration support.
“No one aspires to remain a refugee forever,” she said, underscoring the urgency of restoring stability and support in host and origin countries.
She reminded the media that refugees are not like migrants; they are individuals who have lost the protection of their home states and often arrive in host countries traumatized by violence or persecution. As such, they require specialized care, including mental health services.
Children, especially those who are unaccompanied, face heightened dangers such as recruitment by armed groups and exploitation. Tan emphasized that providing them with protection is a matter of survival, not optional aid.
