The new report Emergency Preparedness and Response in 2023, highlights how UNHCR delivered support to millions of displaced people in 2023

In times of such devastation, your solidarity with those forced to flee is more important than ever.??

On a cold day last January, I met with 83-year-old Lyudmila and her daughter Olena in Ukraine. They were forced to abandon their old lives in Kharkiv once bombs started dropping on the city, making their way towards the relative safety of Uzhhorod in western Ukraine.??

They settled at a Collective Shelter run by UNHCR’s local partner, Neemia. About 60 displaced people, mainly women and children, live at the home where families have their own rooms and access to common areas like a cafeteria and lounge. Lyudmila’s great-granddaughters attend the primary school that is on-site, which also includes children from the local community. Lyudmila spoke to me about how grateful she was for the assistance they received, having had the chance to bring only a few essential items when they fled their home. The struggles that displaced families like Lyudmila’s face are real and severe, yet their strength and resilience are just as profound.??

During my visit to Uzhhorod, I also met Tetiana, the founder and head of Neemia. I was immediately struck by Tetiana and other colleagues’ immense hospitality and dedication to making everyone feel safe and welcome.??

Thanks to the unwavering efforts of community groups and individuals like Tetiana across Ukraine, UNHCR and its partners have been able to provide shelter support, cash assistance and essential supplies to some of the millions of internally displaced people within Ukraine as well as refugee families in neighbouring countries.??

Witnessing firsthand the work of UNHCR in Ukraine and Romania last year really helped me understand the importance of robust emergency response mechanisms and preparedness. With global conflict and climate-related disasters on the rise, the need for fast and effective emergency response is greater than ever.?

New report highlights how UNHCR prepared for unprecedented levels of forced displacement??

Last year saw unprecedented levels of forced displacement around the world – with 114 million refugees and other forcibly displaced people having to flee their homes, according to UNHCR’s recently published Emergency Preparedness and Response in 2023 report.??

With upsurges in violence and conflict as well as climate-related disasters in many countries, in 2023 UNHCR issued 43 emergency declarations – the highest level in over a decade.??

As UNHCR’s national charity partner with a mission to mobilise the UK public and partners to support global refugee crises, during the year we launched appeals for emergencies such as the conflict in Sudan, earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria and Afghanistan, and floods in Libya. Donors from across the country were swift to respond – thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners, trusts, foundations, philanthropists and tens of thousands of individual donors, in 2023 we raised more than ￡15 million in donations for emergencies.?

UNHCR responded across the globe, from Darien where 500,000 people crossed the jungle, to Afghanistan where nearly 500,000 people were forced to return from Pakistan. With the participation of generous donors and partners from dozens of countries, UNHCR was able to dispatch 7.4 million relief items, such as blankets, tents and kitchen sets, to serve up to 16.7 million displaced people in need of humanitarian assistance.?

A glimmer of hope for the future??

Sadly, the devastating trajectory of emergencies shows no signs of abating in 2024, and the number of those forced to flee their homes may rise to 130 million by the end of the year. Yet, there are signs of hope amidst such bleak figures.??

I attended UNHCR’s Global Refugee Forum in Geneva in December, which gathered over 4,200 participants from 168 countries including refugee leaders, heads of state, governments, humanitarian agencies, businesses and charities. It was inspiring to see so much unity of purpose, collaboration and generosity, as everyone came together to pledge transformative action for refugees and host countries. More than 1,600 pledges of donations, in-kind support and new policies were committed for delivery over the next four years, with a focus on expanding opportunities, inclusion and self-reliance so that refugees can build a better future for themselves and their families.?

Closer to home, I also had the pleasure of overseeing the launch of UK for UNHCR’s Emergency Fund in 2023, which enables donors to support UNHCR’s response teams in delivering lifesaving assistance to those who have been forced to flee their homes. The Fund also helps UNHCR stay on the ground long after emergencies fall from the headlines, providing longer term assistance to those in need.?

Though 2023 saw the highest number of refugee emergencies in the last ten years, it was also a time of great solidarity and support for refugees. I am hopeful that we will continue to see extraordinary compassion and generosity from supporters across the UK who believe in extending a helping hand to those who have been forced to flee their homes and countries due to war, violence and persecution.??