UNHCR reduces support for Ukrainian refugees as US contributions drop

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has partially suspended three refugee support programs in Ukraine since last winter due to reduced funding from the United States, according to the agency’s representative in the country, Karolina Lindholm Billing.

She stated that in 2024, contributions from Washington had previously accounted for about 40% of UNHCR’s total budget, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"This year, we have received a much smaller share, and only recently," she noted during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in Geneva. Due to the funding shortfall, UNHCR was forced to partially suspend three of its numerous support programs for Ukrainian refugees over the winter.

"Some of the programs we had been implementing with the generous financial support of the United States included psychosocial support, [...] as well as the provision of materials for constructing temporary shelters, home repairs, and [...] cash assistance for displaced persons," Lindholm Billing explained.

On January 21, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO), citing disproportionately high contributions compared to other countries. On February 3, Washington effectively suspended the operations of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had provided significant funding to international organisations.

On March 10, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appointed as the acting head of USAID, announced that the American government had terminated 83% of the agency’s programs following a six-week review. He stated that among the 5,200 cancelled contracts, tens of billions of dollars had been spent not in the interests of the United States, and in some cases, even to its detriment.

By Tamilla Hasanova