UNHCR to reduce staff
due to budget constraints

Received only a quarter of needed funding by mid-2024

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plans to reduce its workforce in Lebanon, citing budget constraints as the primary reason. Beginning in April 2025, the agency will cut several positions as part of a broader strategy to address ongoing budgetary shortages. Last year, it reduced its workforce by ten percent.

The organization has had persistent funding shortfalls that have plagued the UNHCR since 2016. Despite Lebanon’s significant and ongoing need for humanitarian assistance, the organization has struggled to secure sufficient financial resources. By June of this year, the UNHCR reported having received only 24 percent of the funding required to maintain its operations at full capacity. This financial gap reflects a larger issue faced by many UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Lebanon, which are also grappling with severe budget limitations.

The staff reductions are expected to hinder the UNHCR’s ability to effectively meet the needs of refugees and vulnerable populations in Lebanon. These cutbacks may strain existing resources and could potentially affect the quality and scope of services provided. The financial difficulties faced by the UNHCR are indicative of broader challenges within the humanitarian sector, where funding shortfalls are becoming increasingly common as global attention shifts to other crises.