Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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February 9, 2026 Refugees and migrants
The new head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called on states to move from "endless management" of the consequences of forced displacement to a genuine reduction in long-term dependence on humanitarian aid.
In his first briefing since taking office earlier this year, Barham Saleh outlined an ambitious course of reform and stressed the need for a renewed international consensus on protection, solutions and fair sharing of responsibilities.
"Humanitarian aid saves lives and must continue to be provided wherever there is need," Saleh said. "But when emergency response tools become long-term measures and entire generations become dependent, we don't create sustainability. Success should be measured by whether people are ultimately able to rebuild their lives."
According to the High Commissioner, refugee protection remains one of the fundamental principles of the existing international system. He recalled that 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and emphasized that States' obligations to respect it are "more important than ever."
Strategic goals
Today, there are nearly 117 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including 42.5 million refugees. Most of them have lived in limbo for years or decades, without any real prospects. In some cases, they are safe, yet excluded from national social systems and forced to rely on humanitarian aid. According to Saleh, this state of affairs should not be considered inevitable.
The High Commissioner outlined a strategic goal: to significantly reduce the number of refugees in protracted displacement and dependent on humanitarian assistance over the next decade. To achieve this, he noted, it is necessary to promote voluntary return, local integration, and resettlement; more closely link humanitarian action with development and peacebuilding programs; expand opportunities for self-sufficiency; and strengthen the inclusion of refugees in national systems.
Problems of host countries
Saleh spoke about his first visits to displacement zones. In Kenya, he saw the benefits of policies that allow refugees to work, study, and integrate into society. In Chad, he saw the scale of the needs of people continuing to flee the conflict in Sudan and the limited resources. In Turkey and Jordan, the primary goal is to create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of Syrians to their homeland. These examples, he emphasized, demonstrate UNHCR's dual responsibility: saving lives today and preventing displacement from becoming an "endless dead end" tomorrow.
Independent verification
Saleh also announced an independent management review aimed at improving UNHCR's efficiency, accountability, and financial transparency amid shrinking resources. He promised clearer priorities, results-based indicators, and improved real-time budget monitoring.
"This isn't about lowering our ambitions," he emphasized. "We need to align our ambitions with our resources so that the people we serve don't pay a high price for our ineffectiveness."
In closing, Saleh emphasized his commitment to practical partnership with Member States: “If we stabilize the organization, consolidate protection reforms, and focus international efforts on sustainable solutions, we will be able to work more effectively – for refugees, host communities, and States.”
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