The following will help you to make an informed decision.
- What is UNHCR?
- Who is a refugee?
- How many people does UNHCR care for?
- What is the breakdown of UNHCR’s budget?
- While governments, corporate and foundations can usually give more, why do you want to spend money to raise fund from individual donors?
- How much is spent on refugee programmes versus overhead?
- How is this money used to help refugees?
- Is my donation tax-deductible?
- Why don’t you use volunteers to do fundraising and related administration in order to save more for helping refugees?
- Does UNHCR work with partners?
- How can I learn more?
- How can I change my monthly donation amount?
- How can I change my contact details?
1. What is UNHCR?
The UN refugee agency is formally known as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Established in 1950, we are responsible for helping refugees in 135 countries. UNHCR has a specific mandate to protect and assist refugees worldwide. We also help stateless people and millions of people displaced within their countries.
When people are forced to flee their homes because of war or persecution, they turn to UNHCR for assistance. We offer them food, shelter, water, medical attention, sanitation and security, while working to find lasting solutions to their plight. When possible, we help refugees and other displaced people return home voluntarily and safely. If necessary, we help them settle in another country where they can start a new life.
UNHCR is non-political and we help all refugees, regardless of race, religion, political opinion or gender. We focus on their humanitarian needs and rights, especially those of women and children.
2. Who is a refugee?
The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines a refugee as “a person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
3. How many people does UNHCR care for?
At the end of 2022, the number of people of concern to UNHCR stood at 108.4 million. These included 35.3 million refugees, 62.5 million internally displaced people and 5.4 million asylum seekers.
UNHCR operates in 135 countries. We are active in nearly all refugee situations and crises worldwide. From Colombia to Kenya, from Iraq to Afghanistan and from Ukraine to Pakistan, UNHCR is there to help uprooted people. We provide basic services, offer legal protection, and work to develop lasting solutions for refugees and other displaced people.
4. What is the breakdown of UNHCR’s budget?
UNHCR’s annual budget is revised every year. Voluntary contributions from governments, foundations, corporations and generous people like you accounted for about 99 percent of our total budget. Some 1 percent comes from the UN regular budget, which is spent entirely on administration costs – meaning more of YOUR money goes to where it is needed most. As needs continue to grow, UNHCR is seeking greater support from individual donors, corporations and foundations.
5. While governments, corporate and foundations can usually give more, why do you want to spend money to raise fund from individual donors?
We welcome all donations, but financial gifts from individual donors give particular satisfaction because of their very personal nature. If you, as a private citizen, donate money towards the operations we run worldwide, it means that you are reaching out to another individual in desperate need of help.
A government can give money on behalf of its people, or a company on behalf of its staff, but it is something special when ordinary citizens dig into their pockets or purses to contribute to UNHCR.
In fact, committed individual donor can support UNHCR’s work in a sustainable way and it is getting more and more important as a source of income for the agency.
6. How much is spent on refugee programmes versus overhead?
Your money helps UNHCR provide protection, shelter and other forms of assistance, and advocacy on behalf of displaced and stateless people every year. We ensure that as many funds as possible are redirected to refugees, stateless persons and asylum-seekers. 88 per cent of all funds raised go directly to field operations. 8 per cent is allocated for field operations support, raising funds and voices for the forcibly displaced, and 4 per cent for maintaining a strong organization. UNHCR staff work as closely as possible with and for people forced to flee, with 91 per cent of our workforce based in field locations. For further details on UNHCR’s budget, read our Global Report.
7. How is this money used to help refugees?
All of our programmes are designed to help find lasting solutions to refugees’ problems, whether it’s helping them return home or settle in other countries. The agency’s work around the world falls under these main sectors: shelter, health care and nutrition, income generation, water and sanitation, education, legal assistance and protection.
All programmes and sectoral projects are intended to mitigate the harsh circumstances in which refugees find themselves and to create opportunities to re-establish their lives. Special focus is given to the most vulnerable, especially women, children, older people and those living with disabilities.
8. Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, you can make a tax-deductible donation and get a proper receipt for this purpose.
9. Why don’t you use volunteers to do fundraising and related administration in order to save more for helping refugees?
UNHCR is almost entirely funded by direct, voluntary contributions – the bulk of it from donor nations. We get important contributions from non-governmental organizations (NGO) and the private sector, including corporations, trusts, foundations and individual citizens.
That’s why it is important to have highly professional, knowledgeable and dedicated fund-raising teams, who have helped UNHCR meet targets in the more competitive environment of recent years. These committed staff members also produce detailed reports to ensure a high standard of transparency and accountability.
10. Does UNHCR work with partners?
Yes, the work we do would be impossible without extensive cooperation with our partners in the field. UNHCR works with different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and with many other intergovernmental and UN agencies to deliver services directly to refugees. We also work closely with governments to support safe and respectful asylum policies, to negotiate refugee camp locations and security, and to guarantee safety for refugees upon their return home.
11. How can I learn more?
We would be pleased to provide you with additional information or answer any questions you may have. Please contact us by email [email protected] or telephone (+852) 2388 3278.
You can also register to receive UNHCR’s E-newsletters and Like our Facebook page, where you will find daily updates of refugees’ stories and our latest work.
12. How can I change my monthly donation amount?
Please contact Donor Care Team by email [email protected] or telephone (+852) 2388 3278.
13. How can I change my contact details?
You can visit here to update donor information.