3rd Meeting, 77th Session of UNHCR Executive Committee

Good morning. Take your seats. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the third meeting of the seventh plenary session of the Executive Committee is called to order. Before we proceed, I wish to remind delegations that in order to enable the interpreters to provide their usual excellent service, I would be grateful if you could send a copy of your remarks before each intervention to the ExCom Secretariat, hqexcom@unhcr.org. We shall now resume Consideration of agenda item 3, the general debate. In continuation of the speakers list, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Congo. You have the floor.

A very good morning, Chairperson, High Commissioner for the UNHCR. Your Excellencies, Heads of Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Republic of the Congo is delighted to be taking.

Part in this 77th session of the Executive Committee.

Of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Refugees and would like to convey its warm congratulations to Mr. Baham Sali, High Commissioner for Refugees, while once again solemnly reasserting its preparedness to continue close cooperation to support international protection for refugees.

My country aligns itself with the statement made by the African Group, made by the DRC.

Chair, Under the administration of His Excellency Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic, Congo remains committed to values of peace, solidarity and international cooperation, as well as respect for its commitments in the sphere of asylum and refugee protection. In a global context characterized by persistent conflicts and exacerbated by forced displacement, And notwithstanding economic and social constraints, my country continues its policy of hospitality towards those fleeing conflicts, persecution and violence by guaranteeing for them access to protection and essential services. This commitment is supported by a strengthening of the national legal framework, particularly through the rollout of Law 41-2021 of the 29th of September 2021, setting the right of asylum and refugee status in the Republic of the Congo. Chair, given the scale of humanitarian needs, Congo considers the protection of refugees to be a collective responsibility, requiring genuinely shared responsibility and burden sharing between the international community and host countries who cannot bear the burden alone. This is why international solidarity must be underpinned by financial, technical and material support, which is both predictable and sustained, in order to strengthen the capacities of host countries and guarantee for refugees protection, rights and dignity. In this vein, my country calls the Executive Committee's attention, and that of UNHCR, to the requirement to review the level of representation within the High Commissioner's Office in the Republic of the Congo, as well as its human, technical and operational capacities. We wish to have a constructive dialogue to allow us to identify concrete steps and needs in the field. Congo, which hosts nearly 74,000 refugees and asylum seekers, remains resolutely committed to the search for sustainable solutions in cooperation with UNHCR, countries of origin and relevant stakeholders, particularly in the area of voluntary repatriation and local reintegration, and, when conditions allow, rehabilitation and reinsertion. On Our country continues to be committed to regional commitments, in particular the platform for support for solutions connected to the Central African crisis. This commitment remains a promotion of peace, stability, essential conditions for voluntary return and the respect for rights, as well as the needs of the host community. Chair, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, and the forthcoming Global Conference for Refugees in 2027, the Congolese Government reasserts its will and desire to strengthen its partnership with UNHCR and all its partners. It remains convinced that only international solidarity, which is dynamic, allows us to overcome effectively the challenges around refugee protection. Finally, refugees are not statistics or figures. Behind each of these stories is a broken dream, an individual, a family, and a future to be rebuilt. Our historic responsibility is also to lend a human face to our common goals. Thank you very much.

for his undying grace. Let honour and glory be his everywhere and forever. High Commissioner, Chair, the Burundi delegation is delighted to welcome the declaration made by the DRC on behalf of the African group and is honoured to be addressing this august assembly. to express our profound gratitude to the High Commissioner for having invited the Government of the Republic of Burundi to take part in this 77th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme. Allow me to begin on behalf of my Government by conveying my warm congratulations to the High Commissioner for his fantastic contribution in the first year of his leadership of this prestigious organization. I'd also like to take this golden opportunity to rightly appreciate the work undertaken by the Executive Committee and you, High Commissioner, in close collaboration with your team, both near and far. You are conducting an edifying work which requires not only expertise but also a sense of humanity and as a result, devotion to alleviate the pain and suffering of refugees the world over, generally and particularly those located in Africa and Burundi. May your whole team derive satisfaction and encouragement from the words of Burundi. Chair, despite its small area and dynamic demography, Burundi is sheltering today more than 152,000 refugees and asylum seekers from neighboring countries, in their majority from the DRC. All of these enjoy prima facie refugee status following the events in the east of that country. These include more than 43,000 living in urban areas, while around 78,000 live in the five key refugee camps at Msayena, Busuma, and these have been newly set up to facilitate the management of increased flows from Congo in 2025. Voluntary return of refugees to Burundi is currently standing at around 22,000. Burundi also is hosting around 1,100 people at risk of statelessness. The database of this is regularly updated. Chair, despite these concrete actions made by our government in collaboration with its partners, particularly UNHCR, to host and shelter refugees in optimal conditions, these refugees are confronting a number of challenges thanks to a significant reduction in assistance. Above and beyond, uh, uh, everything in the area of repatriation, Burundi has already hosted more than 400,000 repatriated people sin- uh, since 2017 and, uh, up until September, 2026 in the context of the accelerated repatriation program for Burundi citizens living in the United Republic of Tanzania. allowing the closure of the Ntunda camp. We have tripartite meetings, we have the Go and See visits, we have come and tell and live streaming events, which are regularly organized to raise awareness for more than 200,000 refugees remaining in asylum countries. Nonetheless, support and assistance for them in the context of effective reintegration warrants a deliberate improvement to encourage those who are still awaiting the decision to return to their country of birth in dignified and safe conditions, in full respect to the principle of non-refoulement. In order to promote social and peaceful cohesion between refugees, repatriated people and host communities, the government, working through its community development projects, called Prodesi and its social network strengthening program encourages all to focus on economic empowerment activities through cooperatives, production associations, micro enterprises, and other income generating activities to reintegrate themselves into the socioeconomic context of their host countries. And this is what we've been focusing on in our 2040 horizon program. Chair, the government of our country encourages the High Commissioner in his 2035-50 vision, aiming to reduce the number of refugees by 50% by 2035. This demonstrates your commitment to humanitarianism, and we invite you to continue to work Closely with Burundi, a country already committed to your vision despite its financial limitations. The government of the Republic of Burundi reaffirms its commitment to full respect of international conventions on refugees and asylum seekers and will continue to ensure their protection as far as its means allow. The government of the Republic of Burundi invites, nonetheless, the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Refugees to step up its efforts around repatriation of refugees and reintegration of Burundians who are repatriated. This will significantly contribute to the development of our country and the communities therein. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. At the outset, I would like to welcome Mr. Baham Sali on his first participation in this session at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and wish him every success in fulfilling his role. Chair, distinguished representatives, The burden of hosting 770,000 refugees and millions of foreign migrants continues to weigh heavily on my country, Iran, at a time when, in less than a year, our country has been subjected twice to widespread military aggression by the Israeli regime and the United States of America. These blatant acts of aggression in gross violation of the Charter of the United Nations and well-established principles of international law have targeted our country's critical infrastructure, leaving thousands dead and injured and tens of thousands of families displaced. Over several decades, despite imposed wars and unilateral coercive measures, Iran has continued to provide extensive services to refugees whose numbers continue to increase. Equal. and non-discriminatory access to the education system, even amid air strikes. Education for over 70,000 university students, targeted and special support for over 40,000 female heads of household and their children, medical assistance to over 3,000 patients with severe and chronic diseases, and basic health insurance coverage for all refugees are among the services that have continued to date. In the health sector alone, these efforts have cost more than $3 billion, while UNHCR's operational requirements in Iran are estimated at around $140 million, of which less than 10% has been funded. The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes UNHCR's financial difficulties. However, We emphasize that declining resources must not become a pretext for shifting the burden instead of sharing it equitably. Heavy burden of hosting refugees in the absence of effective international support is incomplete with the fundamental principle that no one should be left behind. Today, the fundamental question is this: Why does the level of international financial support remain disproportionate to the heavy scale of this burden? We believe that answering this question requires a careful assessment of the capacities and constraints of the host country, particularly in light of the impact of war and unilateral coercive measures on its ability to respond. In conclusion, while reaffirming our support for UNHCR's overall policies and our readiness to continue cooperating, we will consider the 50 by 35 vision in accordance with our national laws and policies. We nevertheless emphasize that achieving this vision requires an equitable sharing of responsibilities and that refugee self-reliance must not become a pretext for imposing additional obligations on host countries. I thank you for your attention.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Thank you, Chairperson, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the African Group. We congratulate the High Commissioner and the senior leadership for their appointments. Kenya is greatly honored by the visits of the High Commissioner and the Assistant High Commissioner operations as their first missions upon assumption of office. We assure you, High Commissioner and your leadership, our full support in the discharge of your mandate. This meeting takes place at an important moment as we mark 75 years of the 1951 Convention. It provides an opportunity to reaffirm the principles of international protection and redouble efforts for renewed commitment in the search for durable solutions, particularly for protracted displacements. Chairperson, Kenya has for decades carried a significant responsibility in providing protection and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in our region and beyond. Our refugee hosting communities have shouldered this responsibility for generations. Across the Horn of Africa and the wider East African region, forced displacement continues to be witnessed. As these challenges transcend national borders, they demand not only regional cooperation, but also strengthen international solidarity. Addressing the drivers for displacement is therefore critical. The international community must strengthen its resolve in this regard. Chairperson, protracted displacement requires us to go beyond maintaining humanitarian responses indefinitely. Protection must remain at the center of our response, but it must be accompanied by opportunities for self-reliance livelihoods, and economic activities, among others. Through the Shiraika Plan, Kenya is transforming from a predominantly humanitarian and camp-based model towards a government-led, development-oriented approach that promotes the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees alongside the development of host communities. We are convinced that our efforts align with the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 vision. Our ambitious, forward-looking, and visionary plan will only make the tangible difference in the lives of refugees, and host communities when matched with adequate, predictable, sustained and multi-year funding from partners. We call upon donors to do more in this regard. The principle of burden and responsibility sharing remains fundamental. This is why the third global refugee forum in 2027 will provide watershed moment to strengthen collective commitments towards equitable responsibility sharing and enhance search for durable solution. As one of the co-conveners of the third GRF, Kenya stands ready to work with all partners to turn commitments into action, advance sustainable solution for refugees, and ensure that host communities remain at the center of our collective response. In building towards the momentum for the GRF and amidst the declining humanitarian resources, it is crucial that we enhance efforts for durable solutions. Kenya, therefore, urges for better coordination among development and peace actors. In particular, Kenya's emphasis is on two pillars for achieving sustainable refugee responses: support to countries of origin and, second, support in host countries. Chairperson, Kenya looks forward to the upcoming High Commissioner's Dialogue in December 2026. We affirm our commitment to collaboration and emphasize the need to reinforce the humanitarian development peace nexus. Consequently, durable solutions will be achieved through global cooperation and an integrated approach on shared challenges. As UNHCR undertakes reforms, Kenya underscores that institutional effectiveness must go hand in hand with equitable geographical representations. Countries and regions bearing significant responsibilities for hosting refugees should also be adequately represented, including at senior decision-making levels. Kenya, therefore, calls for reforms that strengthen not only efficiency and effectiveness, but also geographical diversity, inclusivity and representation within the organization. In conclusion, Kenya reaffirms unwavering commitment to the protection of refugees. We urge the international community to match this commitment with predictable and sustained support, grounded in solidarity and shared responsibility. I thank you.

Thank you. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eswatini.

Thank you, Chairperson. The High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Pâm Sallé, Excellencies and distinguished guests, I am humbled to convey the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini's greetings at this 77th session of the Executive Committee. The Kingdom aligns itself with the statement of the Africa Group and greatly appreciates the High Commissioner for pledging UNHCR commitment to addressing the needs of the growing number of people we care for, despite challenging times within the humanitarian sector. His Majesty's Government congratulates His Excellency, the High Commissioner, on his new position and wishes him a rewarding tenure in office as he takes UNHCR to greater heights, despite the prevailing economic challenges. Eswatini reaffirms her commitment to welcoming persons who are fleeing our conflict violence and persecution in line with her international obligations. The implementation of pledges made at the Global Refugee Forum is testament of this commitment. These pledges include the strengthening of our asylum systems by making it more efficient and fair. A number of capa- uh, capacity building initiatives have been undertaken for officers and the new members of statutory boards with the help of UNCR Pretoria office. The kingdom remains committed to eradicating and preventing statelessness through such initiatives as completing a MOPUP exercise and rolling out the closing of the tap project, which promotes birth registration at health facilities as a prevention measure. The government continues to call upon those affected by gender discrimination, discriminatory provisions in our national laws to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs for assistance. The Kingdom is also implementing the pledge on economic inclusion of refugees and host communities through the Nzevana Agricultural Project. The lack of funding for this project has slowed down its implementation. However, we are happy to report that 200 hectares of the land placed has been fenced. Land preparation has been undertaken on 100 hectares. These efforts will go to waste if no immediate interventions are made to save the project. As a government, we are advocating for technical and financial support for both the project and setting up of a new settlement that will assist with decongesting our refugee reception centre. Chairs, resources at our Mlindza Refugee Reception Centre continue to be strained. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the various national and international partners who have extended a helping hand towards the strengthening of our registration, health and security screening at the centre. Our water and sanitation systems are still not sufficient for the growing numbers of of asylum seekers and refugees being hosted at the center, far beyond its intended capacity. The Kingdom continues to implement durable solutions, such as voluntary repatriation to countries of origin, such as Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chairperson and distinguished participants, the government acknowledges the crucial role played by our strategic partners, despite a reduction in humanitarian support. In line with the Global Refugee Forum, we advocate for a whole-of-society approach. As much as this government is gravely concerned by the ongoing reforms within the UNHCR, which has greatly affected the South Africa Multi-Country Office, SAMCO, responsible for more than nine SADC member states. This has seen a reduction in number of staff by close to half. resulting in a loss of expertise which hinders efficient technical support, yet the region is experiencing complex migration flows. Swaziland welcomes the UNHCR's 50 by 35 vision and its implementation. This has come at an opportune time as a recent study conducted under the Southern African Migration Management Project, which has which assessed the access to labour markets of asylum seekers and refugees in Eswatini. The study highlighted the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in this regard. It is imperative that UNCR and member states craft a clear roadmap on the implementation of these mechanisms to ensure that concrete results are achieved and that no government is left behind. We can also take a leaf from the successes or otherwise of other initiatives such as the GRF, a decade after its conception and initial implementation. Chepas in Eswatini calls for UNHCR and Member States to implement the root causes approach framework to manage movements of refugees and migrants. This will ensure the protection of migrants as they flee to places of safety, often through hazardous journeys. As I conclude, USR is urged to member states to intentionally address root causes if we are to reduce refugee situations in light of prevailing reduction in humanitarian funding. We need to look into making collective efforts with regional bodies and other development players. The phenomenon of secondary movement of refugees has to be tackled at regional level in order to facilitate safe returns to countries that had previously hosted such refugees and asylum seekers. Despite fiscal challenges, the government commits to finding solutions to the plight of the refugees and asylum seekers who have fled to Eswatini to seek international protection and safety in order to rebuild their lives. I thank you for your attention.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gabon.

Thank you, Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, allow me to convey the regrets of Her Excellency Marie Edith Tassila Ayede Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, responsible for integration and Gabonese abroad, who would have wished to participate personally in this work but is prevented because of a scheduling conflict. I take the opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of my country to international protection and to the dignity of forcibly displaced persons. I extend to you, Chairperson, and the members of the Bureau, our congratulations and best wishes for every success, I also renew our congratulations to Mr. Baham Sali and assure him of Gabon's support in the exercise of his duties as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Furthermore, my country aligns with the statement made by the African Group. Chairperson, in this 75th anniversary year of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, our responsibility is clear. We must bring its principles to life in the responses we provide to people forced into exile. For Gabon, solidarity is measured not only by the number of people welcomed, but also by the ability to protect their rights and open up prospects for them. Our conviction is simple. Asylum protects a life. A lasting solution makes it possible to rebuild it. And in this spirit, Gabon has made socioeconomic integration a pillar of its action. Our approach is based on welcoming, empowering and preparing sustainable solutions. Chairperson, this ambition is reflected in tangible progress. First, Gabon is mobilizing its national mechanisms to support refugees on their path to autonomy. The enrollment and verification actions and the support for training and employment mentioned in The framework of the national platform for the promotion of employment are part of this approach. The challenge is to enable refugees to develop skills, to meet their needs, and to contribute to the society that is hosting them. We want to make economic inclusion a lever for dignity, but also for social cohesion and shared development. Secondly, Gabon is preparing to strengthen its framework for protection against statelessness. The national workshops organized on this issue are an important preparatory step towards acceding to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. This work reflects our desire better to prevent situations of exclusion linked to the absence of nationality and to deepen the conditions for a strengthened international commitment. These two approaches complement one another, promoting autonomy and strengthening legal protection. They give tangible content to our tradition of hospitality. We're also convinced that integration is built with host communities. Respect for the country's laws, the protection of rights, and inclusive policies that benefit all are the foundations of sustainable living together. As part of Gabon's commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees, The National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund has made significant progress in terms of refugees' access to health. Fund 3, dedicated to economically vulnerable Gabonese, has formed the basis of national solidarity and initiated the inclusion of refugees in precarious situations. Fund 4 consolidates this dynamic through a new legal framework. Eligibility criteria extended to foreigners, self-employed workers and voluntary nature of persons offering refugees and more sustained and structured path to health coverage. Chairperson. Japan now intends to extend these efforts by opening up consultations with the refugees who have been present on its territory for a long time, with a view to preparing the implementation of sustainable solutions adapted to their situations. We wish to do this with the support of HCR and working with the competent administrations. It must make it possible to listen to the people concerned, understand their aspirations, and identify, together with them, the obstacles to a lasting solution. Refugees must be actors in the decisions that affect their future. In line with the International Refugee Protection Framework and in the spirit of the Global Compact on Refugees, the dialogue will examine the possibilities of local integration, voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity. The approach will respect the principle of non-refoulement and the protection needs of everyone. No return can be envisaged without a free and informed choice by the persons concerned. The consultation will not prejudge individual decisions or the possibilities offered by third countries. Our ambition is to move from a reception that may last for years to a future that's being built without weakening the guarantees of protection. To support this, Gabon calls for targeted technical and financial partnerships in favor of autonomy, legal protection, and sustainable solutions for the benefit of refugees and host communities alike. Chairperson, protecting, including, and creating sustainable opportunities This is the contribution that Capon intends to make to our common responsibility. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

In the name of

God, the compassionate, the merciful. Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. At the outset, I'd like to congratulate Dr. Baham Salih on his first participation in the work of the Executive Committee. And to reiterate Syria's readiness to strengthen its partnership with HCR in protection and sustainable solutions. Syrians abroad are an essential part of Syria's human capital and its future. They work as doctors, engineers, teachers, researchers, and craftsmen. And during their years abroad, they have gained important experience and knowledge. So we We see their return as not only a return of people to their homeland, but as a way to make that experience serve their country. We seek a safe and dignified return of Syrians, and we know that wanting to return is not enough. Since liberation, Syria has seen the return of some 1.8 million Syrians from abroad, together with 1.9 million IDPs who've gone back to their areas of origin. These figures reflect a real desire to return, but they also show the scale of the challenge. Returns do not end when a person crosses the border. If they can't go to school or have access to water, healthcare, housing and employment, then the return remains fragile. So the criterion for success is not just the number of returnees. It is the number of people who have been able to settle down and rebuild their lives. Return begins at the border. but it succeeds within society. And the scale of the challenge is immense. The World Bank estimates that the cost of reconstruction in Syria is about $216 billion, but there's a gap in institutions, services, job opportunities, and the ability to operate sustainably, what we're rebuilding now. So the Syrian government has developed a national framework for recovery and international cooperation, based on restoration of critical infrastructure and basic services, the strengthening of economic and social resilience, and building the capacity of national institutions. Through the Department of International Cooperation, we're working to make these priorities the basis of dialogue with partners so that We move from sporadic projects to an integrated track that leaves a sustainable national capacity. During our recent visit to the Scandinavian countries, we ensured that the return file was not treated as a separate migration file. In Norway, we looked at linking return to the rehabilitation of the relevant areas, including demining and elimination of explosive remnants of war. When agricultural land, roads and villages are safe, then return and production become positive at the same possible at the same time. In Denmark, we discussed practical projects and capacity building, border management, identity and reintegration and discussed with UNEP the opportunity for Syria to engage in the GEF supported technology needs assessment program. And we also looked at leveraging the experiences of Syrians abroad. Sustainable return does not need a single program called return, but rather a set of investment services and institutions that make life in the community possible. Humanitarian assistance will remain essential in Syria, but it must not become a permanent system that works alongside national institutions without strengthening them. We are working on new coordination mechanisms, including the Syrian Partnership Coordination Forum and the Technical Assistance Center. And we appreciate what host countries and communities have provided over the past years. We recognize that the situation of Syrians varies from one person to another. So the voluntary, safe, and dignity aspects must remain unwavering principles. Return must be linked to a clear reception and reintegration plan. We are not asking the international community to rebuild Syria. instead of the Syrians. And we're not asking for ongoing relief forever. We're asking for a partnership that will allow us to meet the current needs and have institutions that can uphold people's rights. So let us not make return a separate project from recovery, but rather make recovery a path to return. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia, who will present a statement on behalf of the Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. You have the floor.

Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Ministerial Group members of the Group of Friends for the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel: Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. We express our deep appreciation to UNHCR personnel and partners particularly national and locally recruited colleagues, who continue to deliver protection and assistance in increasingly dangerous and constrained environments. When personnel are attacked, threatened, detained, or denied access, refugees, internally displaced, and stateless people can lose vital access to protection, assistance, and pathways towards solutions. This matters as UNHCR implements major organizational reform. A more agile, accountable and field-focused UNHCR will succeed only if personnel and partners have the security, capabilities and support required to operate close to affected communities. Likewise, progress towards self-reliance and durable solutions depends on sustained protection, presence, safe humanitarian access and trusted engagements with refugees and host communities. Reform must strengthen UNHCR's capacity to prevent and manage risks to personnel. Decisions on country presence, partnerships, workforce structures, and the transition of responsibilities should be informed by protection and security risks, backed by adequate resources and accompanied by clear accountability and duty of care. This is especially important where reduced international presence may place greater responsibility and risk on national personnel and local partners. The Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel provides a practical framework for this task, promoting respect for international law, enabling humanitarian access, strengthening protection for international, national, and local personnel, and advancing accountability. These are the conditions for UNHCR to remain operational in high-risk contexts and to deliver protection and solutions responsibly. We therefore ask UNHCR to embed the protection of personnel in the implementation of its reform agenda and in every country and regional roadmap, including through adequately resourced security and duty of care measures and safeguards for national personnel and local partners. We also call on UNHCR to include in its report to the Executive Committee information on how reform decisions are affecting personnel safety, humanitarian access, and operational continuity, and to use that evidence to adjust implementation where risks increase or protection capacity is weakened. Protecting humanitarian personnel is an investment in UNHCR's ability to deliver. Keeping personnel and partners safe will be essential to preserving protection at the center of reform and ensuring durable rights-based outcomes. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique, who will deliver a statement on behalf of the Geneva Support Group for the Western Sahara.

Chairperson, High Commissioner, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Geneva Support Group for Western Sahara to express our deep concern at the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation facing more than 170,000 people most vulnerable, Sahrawi refugees in the camps around Tindouf, Algeria, according to the UN multi-agency assessment conducted in 2017. This protracted humanitarian situation, which has persisted for decades, requires the continued and enhanced attention of the UNHCR and the international community. Allow me, Mr. Chair, to draw attention to a number of figures that underscore the seriousness of the situation. Compared with the mid-2025, overall contributions have fallen sharply from approximately USD 36 million in 2025 to only USD 14 million this year. UNHCR's own contribution has likewise decreased from approximately USD 7 million to USD 3 million. These substantial funding reductions are already having a tangible impact on the refugee population placing increasing pressure on essential basic services, including food assistance, water supply, education and health care. The group is deeply concerned that if this trend continues, the already fragile humanitarian situation could deteriorate further, with serious consequences for the most vulnerable, particularly children, women older persons and persons with specific needs. Sustained and predictable humanitarian funding is therefore essential to prevent further deterioration and to preserve access to life-saving and essential services. In this regard, the group wishes to recall the legal and moral responsibility borne by the UNHCR, as well as by the UN system as a whole, towards Sahrawi refugees. These responsibilities stems from the circumstances that led to the displacement and remains as relevant today as ever. It must be upheld and strengthened pending a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict of Western Sahara in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The group therefore calls upon UNHCR to maintain the humanitarian needs of the Sahrawi refugee population high on its agenda and to continue mobilizing the necessary resources to ensure the continuity of essential assistance and services. We also urge the international community and all donors to respond generously to the funding shortfall and to provide timely, predictable and sustained support, uh, commensurate with the scale and urgency of the needs on the grounds. The Group expresses its sincere appreciation to all donors who have continued to demonstrate solidarity with the Sahrawi refugees, despite the increasingly challenging global humanitarian financial environment. We encourage them to redouble their efforts and maintain their valuable humanitarian contributions. At this critical juncture, continued international solidarity is indispensable to ensuring that most vulnerable Sahrawi refugees are not left behind. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia. on behalf of MIKTA, Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia. You have the floor.

Thank you, High Commissioner, Chair, Excellencies. I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the MIKTA countries, Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia. As members of a cross-regional platform, MICTA countries reaffirm our collective commitment to support international efforts to protect and find solutions for forcibly displaced persons. High Commissioner, we welcome you to your first Executive Committee. You have commenced at a time when the international humanitarian protection system is under immense strain, with over 117 million people forcibly displaced and less resources to meet these needs. We are deeply concerned by the extraordinary needs that will go unmet in 2026. We recognise the ambitious scope of your 50 by 35 vision and take note of the forthcoming strategic directions, which we hope will provide a clear results-orientated framework to guide its implementation, support effective prioritisation, and translate this ambition into concrete outcomes. We encourage the international community to bolster cooperation in addressing the root causes of forcibly displaced persons, so that voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity becomes possible. MICTA will continue to advocate for resettlement and complementary pathways as integral parts of durable solutions. MICDA values UNHCR's contribution to a strong multilateral system and considers its core function of providing international protection and humanitarian assistance and advancing durable solutions as essential. We recognize UNHCR's crucial access to displaced populations, its ability to convene governments and partners, and its leadership in promoting solutions-focused approaches. We support a more efficient, accountable, and field-focused UNHCR, a UNHCR that is agile and able to respond to each context differently. MICTA encourages UNHCR to continue aligning its effort with the UN80 initiative and the humanitarian reset. We support ambitious, meaningful, and lasting UN reform to ensure that the system remains fit for purpose. We further encourage UNHCR to prioritize the things that preserve UNHCR's core protection mandate and its capacity to respond to emergencies and its presence in high risk contexts. A strong UNHCR is one that is consultative, inclusive, and transparent, delivers measurable results, and is able to define its impact. MICDA recognizes the extraordinary generosity of host and transit countries in continuing to provide protection and basic services under difficult circumstances. Their solidarity allows displaced persons to find safety until durable solutions are possible. We value the steadfast support of donor countries. We continue to encourage the international community to scale up its efforts and support for UNHCR to provide predictable funding and to uphold the principle of international burden and responsibility sharing. We also encourage UNHCR to continue to strengthen cooperation with development actors, international financial institutions and the private sector with a view to broadening and diversifying its donor base. We acknowledge the resilience and dedication of UNHCR staff and the risk they face working in dangerous environments including from the spread of harmful information. MICDA is deeply concerned by misinformation, disinformation and harmful narratives that undermine trust in humanitarian assistance, obstruct operations and expose humanitarian personnel and organizations to violence, threats and discrimination. We condemn the creation, coordination and dissemination of all such harmful information. It causes real harm. We reaffirm our support for UN Security Council Resolution 2730 and the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, and call for their effective implementation, including by countering misinformation and combating disinformation, information manipulation, and hate speech targeting humanitarian organizations, personnel, and activities. MICT calls upon all states all parties in armed conflict and other relevant actors to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and humanitarian operations, including in the information environment. We look forward to working with you to ensure UNHCR is equipped for the challenges ahead. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Sao Tome and Principe on behalf of The Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. You have the floor.

Distinguished Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the Member States of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, CPLP. At the outset, Allow me to congratulate Mr. Baham Sali on his first session of the Executive Committee as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We welcome the vision that he has presented to the committee and assure him of our support for the fulfilment of UNHCR's mandate. We also express our appreciation for the work done by the office in protecting and assisting displaced persons, who are often confronted with situations of extreme vulnerability. This year, the CPLP celebrates 30 years since its founding. Over the past three decades, our community has brought together countries over four continents, united by a common language and by the shared values of peace, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and social justice. The diverse experiences of our member states, including in the field of international protection and forced displacement, strengthen our conviction that these challenges can only be addressed through dialogue, international cooperation, solidarity and shared responsibility in a climate of peace. The CPLP shares the assessment that forced displacement results to a large extent from the persistence of conflicts and the absence of lasting political solutions. In the face of escalating crises and growing humanitarian needs, we reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Charter, international law, and multilateralism. Seventy-five years on from the adoption of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, its underlying principles remain fundamental. As affirmed by our Heads of State and Government at the 15th CPLP Conference, our community remains committed to protecting the human rights of all refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons, as well as all those in need of international protection. Chairperson, the CPLP attaches particular importance to gender equality and to protecting women and girls affected by enforced disappearance. and forced displacement. Women and girls may be particularly exposed to gender-based violence, exploitation, trafficking in persons, sexual violence and other forms of abuse. And these risks can be exacerbated in situations of conflict and displacement. Protection responses must therefore maintain a gender perspective, ensuring that women and girls have safe, equitable access to education, healthcare, documentation, justice, and livelihood opportunities. And at the same time, we must recognize women not just as vulnerable individuals, but as agents of change, leadership, and peace building. They're full Meaningful participation and decisions that affect their lives must be encouraged and strengthened. Particular attention must be given to girls and young women, ensuring that displacement does not undermine their right to education, the development of their capacities, or their ability to build a dignified, independent future. Chairperson, the CPLP, takes note of the ambition to reduce by 2035 the number of refugees in protracted situations who depend on humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance saves lives, but it cannot be an end in itself. And in this regard, we recognize the need to strengthen sustainable solutions based on inclusion, self-reliance, and resilience through education, training, access to employment and livelihood opportunities, both for refugees and for host communities. Thus, we reaffirm our commitment to the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and call for a more predictable and equitable sharing of responsibilities. As we approach the 2027 Global Refugee Forum, we must ensure that the commitments undertaken translate into tangible action and concrete improvements in the lives of communities, in the lives of refugees and the communities that host them. Chairperson, the CPLP would also like to emphasize that access to information is itself a protection issue. Displaced persons must be able to understand asylum procedures, know their rights, and access essential services in a language that they understand. As a community united by a common language, we attach particular importance to multilingualism and encourage UNHCR to strengthen communication with displaced populations in their own languages, including Portuguese. In an international context marked by conflict, increasing displacement and limited resources, the international community's response must remain firmly centred on the human being. For the CPLP, this means ensuring that no one is left behind, particularly women and girls. The CPLP stands ready to continue working with UNHCR, States and all partners to ensure that people forced to flee can find protection and can rebuild their lives in safety, dignity and hope. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the High Commissioner for his response. Mr. High Commissioner.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Excellencies, for very important interventions and contributions to this ExCom. Start with thank you for your statement, Congo, and in particular, highlighting your efforts in strengthening your national legal frameworks for the protection of refugees. Your support to the 50 by 35 vision is also noted with appreciation, and in particular, your focus and efforts to advancing durable solutions. Your call for greater responsibility sharing and to enable capacity building in the area of asylum system is well noted and I trust heard in this hall. I recognize that this has been a common plea from all refugee hosting states and I'm hopeful that we can show our global responsibility sharing support concretely leading to the GRF. I thank you for your statement, Burundi, and for highlighting not only your work in extending protection to refugees, but also receiving refugees back to your own country. I know the challenges due to diminished assistance in Burundi, in particular impacting on your capacity to receive refugees back. I appreciate the work you are undertaking to enable these voluntary returns. including go and see visits and social cohesion programs. Such efforts included enabled voluntary return should indeed be supported and be given its direct link to our vision 250 by 35. We will be with you as you proceed and thank you for your support also in this regard. Thank you. Iran for continued and generous hosting of refugees in your country for such an extended period and despite many challenges. Your non-discriminatory access to education, including the university level and inclusion in the health system, is noted with much appreciation. I appreciate, and there is no doubt we all must work together to properly address in reality the question pose on why financial support remains disproportionate to the heavy scale of support provided by the hosting nations. Kenya, I thank you for having hosted me in your country as I first took my office. It was very important for me to see the Shrieka plan directly in action myself and see how it is very much aligned with the 50 by 35 vision. The work being undertaken to transition from a predominantly humanitarian and camp-based models towards government-led development-oriented job-creating approach that promotes socioeconomic inclusion of refugees alongside development of host communities is truly remarkable. Thank you for leading on that. And I also recognize your call for need for adequate, predictable, sustained, and multi-year funding. And thank you also for your commitment to the GRF, including by serving as one of the co-conveners, and for your call for equitable geographical representation is also well heard and remains an important part of our continued human resource considerations. Thank you, Iswathini, for your statement and for your support to the Our50x35 vision and for focusing on the implementation of the pledges made at the GRF, including the strengthening of your asylum systems and various capacity, including efforts carried out with our support. Your efforts on preventing statelessness, particularly through increased birth registration, is also much appreciated. following up on your pledge on economic inclusion of refugees is also recognized, including important advances around land pledges. Once again, we have heard you on financial support to enable this work to continue effectively, and we must work together to match such important pledges to enabling contributions. I thank Gabon for highlighting that solidarity is not only about the numbers one hosts, but how their rights are pursued. I appreciate your ambition and tangible progress around skills training for refugees and socioeconomic inclusions, and I also really welcome your efforts on protecting and preventing statelessness. This work, I noted, is done in close coordination of strengthening cohesion with local communities. This is a very important approach, and as our efforts to engage effectively and directly with refugees to hear their aspirations and personal decisions to help build a joint future. Thank you for this important approach. Thank you, Syria, for recognizing the skills gained by refugees abroad, and that their return is not only voluntary and safe return to their homeland, but also to have their experience serve the country. Hoping for that return is not enough. The desire is there, I have seen it personally, but there is a really heavy scale of challenge once you cross, they cross that border. I note and appreciate. is not the number of returnees, but the number who have been able to settle down and build their lives. I fully agree that return may start at the border, but its success is in the communities. The national framework on national recovery and reconstruction you have flagged is indeed important in this regard, and I'm grateful that there have been important discussions with other countries to enable that support, as indeed As you have recalled, the national institutions do need strengthening, and I agree it is not about the international communities rebuilding Syria alone, but it is the partnership that is important so recovery can indeed be a path for that return. We are working closely with the World Bank, the IMF, the IFC, and other development actors to make sure that these supports are really helping with the return and reintegration of refugees. And I do want to note with appreciation our close collaborations as UNHCR with the Syrian government and civil society and other actors to making sure that this journey is done successfully and leading to sustainable returns. Once again, Excellencies, We need to remember Syria, a few years back, was a headline for people fleeing violence and persecution. Today, we are seeing and witnessing large numbers of people returning voluntarily, trying to serve their communities and reintegrate. This is quite a drastic change. We need to be there to help that happen. Thank you, Australia, for your group statement recognizing the threats faced by humanitarian personnel. noting that when they are attacked or are denied access, refugees face also consequences. Agree that UNHCR's work would only succeed if personnel can be close to the field. Assessment of risks, effective duty of case, as well as accountability are truly key. I have taken note of your recommendation of embedding protection of humanitarian personnel in our reform agenda, including ensuring adequate security capacity. This will indeed be important and will be so pursued. Thank you, Mozambique, for your group statement expressing your deep concern on the dire humanitarian situation in the camps around Tindouf. I recognize that overall contributions have decreased and is having impact on the welfare of refugees, especially the most vulnerable. We must indeed ensure adequate sustained humanitarian funding. As I flagged in my opening statement, for more than half a century, generations of Sahrawi refugees have lived in these camps near Tindouf, where our work continues, but where humanitarian conditions are increasingly challenging. But we must also genuinely work to help bring a solution to this long refugee situation. 50 years on in camps, it is not the right thing. It's untenable. It's unsustainable. People deserve better. Thank you, Australia, for your group statement, including support to the 50 by 35 vision. and efforts to bolster addressing root causes of displacement. Your support to resettlement is also advancing durable solutions is much appreciated. I appreciate your guidance on our reforms, including to enable to become more agile and for us to carry this out in a consultative process. This is indeed our approach. Your call for predictable funding as well as recognition of the responsibility carried by hosting states is also highly appreciated. And I fully agree on the real harm caused by misinformation and disinformation. This is really an important issue that you are raising, and it is impacting not just the political environment dealing with refugees, but our ability as humanitarian actors to deliver on our mission. And I fully agree that we need to really work on hate speech that is targeting refugees and personnel. And I hope we really can address these challenges together collaboratively, because this is genuinely an issue that requires a collaborative approach. And this is certainly a priority for UNHCR as we are moving forward. And thank you to the CPLP for its continued partnership and for highlighting the importance of protection, particularly for women and girls, as well as the need to advance inclusion and self-reliance through education, skills, and livelihoods. We also welcome your support for the Global Compact on Refugees and your emphasis on access to information in languages people understand. I have to say on that matter, New technologies are enabling us to do better. Some of the pilots that I have seen, including for some of the work that we do at UNHCR, is really remarkable in that regard. But it is an area where I agree we need to focus more to make ensure that the essentials of protections and dignity for displaced people are addressed as effectively as possible. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. High Commissioner, for the responses provided to the questions and comments of delegations. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zambia.

Chairperson, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, From the outset, I wish to congratulate the High Commissioner on his appointment to this esteemed office and his two Assistant High Commissioners on their respective appointments. Zambia looks forward to your successful and impactful tenure and to our continued collaboration. Chairperson, Zambia wishes to thank the High Commissioner on his statement and takes note of the issues raised. Zambia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the African Group and wish to make this statement in our national capacity. Chairperson, our refugee response is guided by a simple principle: protection must do more than keep people safe today. It must create a pathway to dignity, self-reliance and an opportunity for tomorrow. As the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, Zambia wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the principles set out in the Convention. Chairperson, Zambia's commitment to refugee inclusion, self-reliance, and durable solution is reflected in the national refugee policy and ongoing legal reforms. For instance, the newly enacted Immigration Control Act of 2026 has introduced a self-employment permit for refugees and former refugees to encourage them to participate in economic activities. The priority for legal reforms is to ensure that the reforms translate into meaningful opportunities for refugees to become self-reliant and contribute to their communities and the Grow Zambia agenda as farmers, entrepreneurs, students, and active members of society. Chairperson, the message is clear. As responsibilities grow, the protection system cannot deliver more than a shrinking resource base. While we acknowledge the financial constraints that UNHCR is facing, we call for strong development partnerships with financial institutions and private sector to sustain basic services, expand opportunities, and ensure that policy commitments translate into tangible outcomes for refugees and host communities. Chairperson, the Zambia Refugee and Host Communities Project, supported by the World Bank, represents an opportunity shift towards long-term investment in refugee hosting communities. Its focus on legal and institutional systems, climate resilience, infrastructure, and socioeconomic opportunities reflect the reality that refugees' protection is also a development issue. Chairperson, Zambia will continue to strengthen national systems coordination, and financing. We believe in solutions that are nationally led, locally grounded, and strengthened through predictable international partnerships. We remain determined to pursue durable solutions such as local integration, voluntary repatriation, resettlement, complementary pathways. With respect to the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 vision, you may wish to note that in March 2026, the government of Zambia, the DRC, and UNHCR held a tripartite meeting to work on a roadmap towards reducing the number of Congolese in Zambia. So far, more than 1,600 Congolese refugees have been supported to return voluntarily from Manta Pula refugee resettlement. Meanwhile, in Mahewa refugee settlement, we have continued to register those that have expressed interest in voluntary repatriation. In addition, we recently concluded a countrywide documentation and verification exercise for Angolan former refugees. This is an important step towards completing the local integration process, as the information collected will help us determine the full cost of fully integrating them into Zambian society. Chairperson, Excellencies, in conclusion, Zambia remains committed to working with UNHCR However, we wish to appeal for continued burden and responsibility sharing with UNHCR, humanitarian and development partners. We also call upon UNHCR to undertake the ongoing workforce reduction reforms in a proportionate manner relative to the needs of the host countries in the low and medium income bracket like Zambia. let us continue to project, to include, and above all, to create conditions for displaced people to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of North Macedonia.

It's an honor to address the 77th session of the Executive Committee. At the outset, on behalf of the Republic of North Macedonia, allow me to extend our warmest congratulations to Mr. Barham Salih on assuming his mandate as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Your Excellency, we welcome your leadership at a time of unprecedented global displacement. One year into your mandate, your strategic depth and demonstrated empathy have already delivered concrete results. North Macedonia fully supports your ambitious 50 by 35 work program, which aims to reduce long-term displaced population dependent on aid by 50% over the next decade. The anticipated voluntary repatriation of nearly 3 million Syrian refugees is a practical and timely application of this visionary strategy. We express our sincere appreciation to the High Commissioner for his comprehensive overview of today's dark realities. In this regard, North Macedonia welcomes decisive steps toward international reorganization and cost reduction. Addressing this operational reality is vital for financial sustainability. North Macedonia supports the proposed need-based budget for 2027 of approximately 7.1 billion. Despite the present challenges. We trust this streamlined framework will optimize resources and enable UNHCR to navigate complex humanitarian landscape with enhanced agility and resilience. Mr. Chair, the fact that the world currently witnesses at least 170.8 million forcibly displaced people, including 41.6 million refugees entitled to international protection, is a recurring alarm of the dear situation and the urgency for collective action. We must mobilize the entire international community to address the gravity of this situation. Tackling the root causes of displacement is essential. The UNHCR role in humanitarian diplomacy, voluntary return, and strategic partnerships remains entirely indispensable. This year carries immense historical weight as we mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. For three-quarters of a century, this landmark document has served as a resilient bulwark for millions fleeing conflict and persecution, transforming human dignity into a binding global legal commitment. For North Macedonia, situated at a crucial crossroad in Southern Europe, this anniversary reflects our own national history and value. We know what it means to open our door in time of crisis, and we understand that protecting refugees is a shared global responsibility. Over the decade, our country has evolved from a nation managing acute humanitarian emergency into a credible and reliable partner within the global refugee protection framework. Our commitment to the 1951 Convention is deeply embedded in our national legislation. In In 2018, we adopted the law on international and temporary protection, comprehensively regulating asylum and refugee rights in harmony with the EU directives. Furthermore, in line with our pledges, we officially ratified the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 2019. In 2025, North Macedonia became the first country in the region to completely resolve all cases of statelessness caused by the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia. Through those legislative pathways, we ensure that every individual's fundamental right to a nationality is protected. Our current priority focus on building long-term resilience, ensuring that asylum seekers have effective access to fair status, determination, education, healthcare, and employment. In terms of the Global Compact on Refugees, we have successfully met most of its pledged commitments. The Global Refugee Forum progress review in December this year will represent a great opportunity to reaffirm our commitments and scale up global action. Mr. Chair, no single country can carry the weight of global displacement alone. Funding shortages, geopolitical shift, and protracted crisis demand renewed multilateral solidarity and active engagement. Allow me to reiterate the steadfast commitment of our national institution to actively working on the implementation of the Compact. By honoring our historical commitments and adapting our local responses to modern challenges, we remain a dedicated ally in contributing to a safer, stable, and more humane world. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Finland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, High Commissioner, Excellencies, Finland aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. Finland is a long-standing supporter of UNHCR and we reaffirm our continued commitment to the organization and its vital mandate. We pay tribute to host countries and communities whose continued solidarity with refugees and internally displaced people deserves recognition and support. At a time of diminishing restraint and respect for international humanitarian law and increasing restrictions for humanitarian access, Finland reaffirms its strong commitment to upholding IHL. Let us be clear, it is the responsibility of states to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and ensure full, safe, rapid and unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Protection must remain at the heart of humanitarian action. We need to ensure that humanitarian principles continue to guide all humanitarian responses and that those affected by conflict and displacement can access the assistance they need in safety and in dignity. For Finland, disability inclusion, gender equality, and support to people in the most vulnerable situations are central elements of principled humanitarian action. Representing around 16% of the global population, often more in conflict settings, Disability inclusion is neither a marginal issue nor an added cost. It improves aid effectiveness and ensures its impartiality. Even in a constrained funding environment, inclusive humanitarian responses must remain a priority. Stronger coordination, collaboration and efficiency across the humanitarian system are more important than ever. We encourage UNHCR's active engagement in the humanitarian reset and the UN80 reform processes. Our shared challenge is to protect those forced to flee, but also to expand durable solutions through stronger responsibility sharing, inclusion, and partnerships. This year, we celebrate 75th anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The Convention and its protocol remain a cornerstone of the international protection framework. Amidst record displacement, shrinking asylum space and protracted crisis, the relevance of UNHCR's mandate as a guardian of the Convention is increasingly clear. Finland recognizes the exceptionally challenging funding environment facing UNHCR and we acknowledge that it has been necessary to take difficult decisions, including regarding workforce reductions. In this context, a clear vision, transparent prioritization, and a continued focus on UNHCR's core mandate are essential. Finland welcomes UNHCR's success in expanding private sector funding and encourages continued efforts to diversify the donor base. We also underline the continued importance of flexible funding and transparent dialogue with donors. For our part, Finland remains committed to providing predictable and flexible multi-year funding. Our support to UNHCR so far this year amounts to 24 million euros, including core funding, support to disability inclusion and operations in Ukraine, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Horn of Africa, Great Lakes region, and the Syria regional response. Finally, we wish to recognize the unwavering commitment of UNHCR staff who continue protecting refugees and displaced people, even during difficult periods of organizational restructuring. Your resilience and hard work on the front lines of global crises do not go unnoticed. Finland also wishes to commend you, High Commissioner Sally, for your commitment and for your dedication. We have taken note of your vision and efforts to protect UNHCR's core functions and mandate. We look forward to continuing our excellent collaboration with you and your new senior leadership team. You have our support. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Thank you, chair, and thank you, high commissioner. Congratulations on your first statement to the committee. The United Kingdom very much agrees with your diagnosis. Forced displacement is ultimately driven by failures of peace and political solutions. Humanitarian action saves lives. but it cannot substitute for the political action that is needed to prevent conflict, resolve crises and create conditions for safe, voluntary and sustainable return. Seventy-five years after the adoption of the refugee convention, its central principle endures. People fleeing persecution must be able to find protection, and no one should be returned to danger. Defending that principle also means ensuring that the system as a whole works. Today, states face complex mixed movements, organised immigration crime, pressure on asylum systems and declining public confidence. Those challenges are not an argument for retreat from refugee law. They demand a practical response. Faster and fairer decisions. lawful return in safety and dignity for those not entitled to remain, safer pathways and stronger co-operation along routes. We therefore welcome your focus on protection and solutions from the outset. Humanitarian assistance is indispensable, but indefinite displacement is not an end point. The United Kingdom supports your 50 by 35 ambition to halve refugee aid dependence over the next decade. The task now is delivery. Ahead of the 2027 global refugee forum, we encourage UNHCR and its partners to develop credible, country-led road maps with clear baselines, measurable outcomes and transparent reporting. They should set out how Governments and partners will support education, livelihoods, national systems and sustainable returns, shaped by refugees and host communities. We recognise the extraordinary contribution of refugee-hosting countries. Inclusion is not cost free. It must be matched by predictable international support, without shifting further responsibility onto those who are already carrying the greatest burden. The UNHCR must also adapt, including as part of wider efforts on humanitarian reform, including UN 18 and the humanitarian reset. That means backing empowered resident and humanitarian coordinators and stronger country-level leadership; sharing services and data infrastructure across the UN; and making greater use of effective pooled financing that puts more resources and decision making in the hands of local actors. In protracted displacement situations, we also need development actors to take greater responsibility for co-ordination and delivery. with UNHCR working increasingly as an enabler and convener, rather than defaulting to long-term operational delivery. The UNHCR should be clear about where it must lead, where others are better placed to lead and where it can step back. That requires tackling the costs and structures that constrain delivery, including ensuring that its workforce, performance management, skill set and terms and conditions are affordable and fit for the purpose that you set. Reform must preserve the expertise and field capacity that are needed to deliver its mandate. Financial pressures make difficult choices, unfortunately, unavoidable. Those choices must be transparent, realistic and informed by evidence. Together, we must not let protection become the casualty of reform. The United Kingdom remains committed to working with you to deliver a system that will endure for another 75 years. that protects the most vulnerable when they are forced to flee and supports them to rebuild their lives and find lasting solutions. Our collective aim must be to create asylum systems trusted by the refugees, the host communities and the Member States that sustain them. Thank you.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of the UK and I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Lebanon.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. High Commissioner, Excellencies, Lebanon aligns itself with the statements delivered by Arab Group and OIC. Lebanon also welcomes the High Commissioner's opening statement and the priorities he has outlined. Mr. High Commissioner, As you begin your tenure at a particularly challenging time for the international refugee protection system, we wish you every success possible. We recognize the profound institutional transformation underway at UNHCR, and we hope it will strengthen stability and preserve operational effectiveness. reiterate our trust in your able leadership and the professionalism of your team. The sharp decline in humanitarian funding is a matter of grave concern, particularly for host countries such as Lebanon. Underfunding undermines Refugee protection intensifies pressure on already overstretched public services and communities and threatens social cohesion. Despite its prolonged economic and financial crises, limited resources, and the consequences of escalating Israeli military attacks, Lebanon continues to host a large refugee and displaced population. Mr. High Commissioner, we valued your recent visit to Lebanon that offered firsthand insight into these mounting challenges. Lebanon, therefore, calls for equitable, predictable, and sustained international responsibility sharing. Host countries, particularly in the developing world, cannot bear these responsibilities indefinitely, and humanitarian assistance cannot substitute for political solutions. Although Lebanon is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, we recognize the importance of international refugee protection and remain committed to international cooperation in addressing forced displacement in accordance with our applicable international obligations and relevant humanitarian principles. We, therefore, welcome the High Commissioner's reaffirmation of these principles and his call for renewed attention to protection and solution. Mr. Chair, Mr. High Commissioner, Lebanon notes with appreciation the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 vision to halve by 2035 the number of refugees in protracted displacement dependent on humanitarian assistance. We stand ready to engage constructively in its development and future implementation, provided it reflects each host country's circumstances and national priorities. We consider self-reliance as an enabler for durable solutions, not a substitute to them. Access to livelihoods and national services must not be equated with local integration where this is not the host country's policy. Implementation must be state-led, country-specific, and supported by predictable, multi-year financing to prevent gaps in protection and essential services. It must not transfer international responsibilities onto already overstretched host countries. Mr. Chair, for Lebanon, durable solutions remain central to resolving protracted displacement. In the Syrian context, safe, dignified, and sustainable return remains essential. This requires stronger international investment in early recovery, basic services, livelihood, and infrastructures in Syria, alongside coordinated humanitarian, development, and financial efforts. Lebanon stands ready to work with UNHCR, the Syrian authorities, and international partners to translate our commitment, including those made in the latest Global Refugees Forum progress review, into concrete results. Looking towards the 2027 Global Refugee Forum, Lebanon calls for measurable progress and tangible outcomes under the Global Compact on Refugees, with equitable responsibility sharing, sustained support for host countries, and concrete, durable solutions backed, yet again, by adequate resources, genuine responsibility sharing, and renewed political engagement. We cannot emphasize enough on the principle that solidarity must translate into action. Responsibility sharing must be tangible. In conclusion, Our collective duty is to protect those compelled to flee, support host communities, and address the conditions driving displacement, so that safe and dignified return will allow those displaced people to rebuild their lives in their homeland. And I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Chair and Mr. High Commissioner, the Republic of Korea aligns itself with the statement delivered by Australia on behalf of MIKTA countries, comprising Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. On this milestone occasion, Korea reaffirms its commitment to the Convention and its core principles, including non-refoulement. At a time of growing pressure on the international refugee protection system and continued forced displacement, these principles must remain at the heart of our collective response. The Korean government has sought to translate this commitment into concrete support. As a reliable partner to UNHCR, Korean government has tripled its annual contribution over the past three years. This funding spans both humanitarian and development assistance, reaching a record high last year. We remain steadfast in our support for UNHCR, both for its life-saving activities and long-term solutions. As the High Commissioner has emphasized, peace is critical to addressing the root causes of displacement, making the HEDP nexus increasingly vital. Korea will continue to join international diplomatic efforts to foster peace and stability and prevent further displacement, while further advancing HEDP nexus initiatives. We hope that Korea's ongoing HEDP nexus projects will contribute to advancing solutions and self-reliance for refugees and supporting host communities. Korea also expanded its commitment to durable solutions for refugees. including resettlement and higher education. Around 330 refugees, mainly from Myanmar, have been resettled in Korea and are rebuilding their lives, while refugee students are pursuing higher education at Korean universities. Korea will continue to support these programs. Mr. Chair, Korea appreciates UNHCR's ongoing reform efforts to improve efficiency and become a more agile and fit-for-purpose organization. The reform should strengthen UNHCR's ability to deliver on its mandate while preserving essential field capacity and expertise, which remain indispensable to effective refugee protection. We also underscore the importance of ensuring that UNHCR's reform is closely aligned with UNAD and the humanitarian reset. We look forward to continue to close consultation with member states throughout the reform process. While recognizing the need for restructuring under the current financial constraints, we hope that due consideration will be given to geographical representation, particularly for states that remain underrepresented in UNHCR's workforce. AI and digital technologies are key to advancing UNHCR's reform and strengthening its capacity to protect refugees. Korea is working with UNHCR and other partners to establish a global AI hub set to launch next year. We expect that the global AI hub will provide a useful platform to support efforts to improve refugee protection. We are also mindful of the financial pressures facing UNHCR. While we understand that the 2027 budget reflects funding reductions across all regions, Korea, as a country in the Asia-Pacific region, recognizes the complex and growing protection needs in our region. We therefore encourage UNHCR to maintain appropriate attention and support for the Asia-Pacific region. Looking ahead to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, Korea remains committed to implementing the pledges made at the second Global Refugee Forum. We look forward to taking stock of progress and reaffirm our collective responsibility to advance refugee protection and solutions. In these difficult times, solidarity matters more than ever. Korea remains committed to working closely with UNHCR, Member States and partners to uphold refugee protection and advance solutions to forced displacement. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Morocco.

Thank you very much. High Commissioner, Excellencies, Delegates, I'd like to take the opportunity of this meeting of the Executive Committee in order to assure the High Commissioner of Morocco's support and the reforming approach he's laid out, as well as the lasting solutions as one of the key pillars of UNHCR's humanitarian action. The world can no longer deal with the refugee situation which has been going on for several decades and which is not only now about refugee ship but has led to a lasting inhumane unacceptable situation generations who are lingering in limbo in extreme vulnerability this is unfortunately the case of the tindoo camps in Algeria which despite billions of dollars expended continues to reach alarming rates of malnutrition and vulnerability as described in the UN reports themselves and UNHCR reports indeed. In that context, High Commissioner, you yourself on the 25th of September last alerted the Security Council regarding the degradation to the conditions, and I quote, of the living conditions in the Tandoof camps and qualify the conditions, and I quote again, as untenable and unbearable, as you did as well this morning, and as well, indeed, you said profoundly inhumane. Mr. High Commissioner, you also did that with the special envoy to the SG as well as the permanent representative in New York in a open letter dated again to September 2026 calling for without delay solutions to the untenable situations in the Tandoof camps and in the new context generated and discussed with the Security Council. This letter lays out the position that the United Nations wishes to adopt and should adopt in terms of tackling the Tindouf camps and bringing them to a better and alternative future. This is why it is urgent to put in place lasting solutions for these camps, which now are made available by the relevant UNSC resolution adopted on the 31st of October 2025, defining the path forwards to defining new regional policies on the Sahara matter through the application of independence. His Majesty Mohammed VI, on the 31st of October last 2025, addressed to the Tindouf camp populations a personal message, a sincere appeal to take this opportunity to regain their own lives. His Majesty said, and I quote, "Moroccans being all equal, there is no difference between those people who are returning from Tindouf camps and their brothers and sisters across the rest of the national territory." High Commissioner, The Moroccan delegation here in Geneva has undertaken widespread negotiations with almost all members of this Council.

It has met and encountered an open door in many cases.

It has a significant number of signatures from a significant number of members of the Committee towards and supporting a lasting solution in Tindouf in a voluntary and free context for the population in order to definitively end their suffering according to their own choice and the standards the general principles and the regulations underpinning UNHCR for governing repatriation, reintegration and return. The majority of donor states that we have consulted with as well, many of them being the principal contributors to your budget, have also called for the rollout of solutions. High Commissioner, Vice Chair, assistance should not fund a permanent status of refugee ship, but it should identify solutions and bring them about. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malta.

Chair, High Commissioner, Excellencies. Malta aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to make these additional remarks in its national capacity. At the outset, we thank the High Commissioner for his statement and for his leadership in steering UNHCR through these challenging times. As the number of conflicts and crises continues to rise, UNHCR personnel across the world remain crucial to meeting the humanitarian needs of millions of vulnerable people, especially women and children. The unprecedented number and scale of conflicts is displacing large numbers of people and placing immense pressure on UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations. Malta believes that addressing the root causes of the displacement and ensuring respect for international humanitarian law remain the most viable and sustainable ways to respond to these growing challenges. Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine has caused large-scale displacement in Europe and inflicted enormous human suffering. Together with the other EU Member States, Malta will continue to support Ukraine by providing temporary protection to its citizens in need of protection. Against this backdrop, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, Malta reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Convention, its core values and principles, and its full support for UNHCR as the Convention's guardian. Malta co-sponsored the side event at the UN General Assembly commemorating the anniversary and looks forward to participating in the High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection in December. Last year, Malta joined many other states in endorsing the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. In doing so, Malta reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law, which protects civilians and aid workers and enables humanitarian access. Malta pays tribute to UNHCR staff for their dedication while working in conflict situations and under extremely difficult circumstances. High Commissioner, a central goal you have set for the organization is to reduce the number of people dependent on humanitarian assistance through the 50 by 30 vision. As a frontline member state in the central Mediterranean, Malta supports efforts to expand durable solutions for persons benefiting from international protection. Last year, Malta launched a new integration strategy and five-year action plan. The plan introduced comprehensive measures to strengthen social inclusion, with particular emphasis on access to services, employment, education, housing, language learning, psychosocial support and participation in local communities. This moves Malta's approach beyond initial assistance and accommodation towards longer-term social and economic integration. Malta welcomes your efforts to adapt operations to financial constraints while ensuring sustainability and sound management. We recognize the difficult decisions this has required. Focusing on the core mandate, avoiding duplication with other agencies and streamlining operations are essential to ensure the decreasing resources are channeled where they matter most for the organization. Malta also supports UNHCR's non-discriminatory, human rights-based approach in the field, including its age, gender and diversity policy. Chair, as the Refugee Convention turns 75, our task remains to address the drivers of displacement, protect displaced people and advance durable solutions. Malta will continue to work with UNHCR to do just that. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you, Chair, High Commissioner. We align ourselves with the EU statement. The past year has been one of the most difficult in UNHCR's history, a year of profound transition marked by a new leadership team, declining resources, a significantly reduced workforce, and a comprehensive management review. Bearing the brunt of these institutional changes are not only UNHCR's people of concern, but also motivated colleagues who had to adapt, absorb uncertainty, and keep delivering in difficult circumstances, including those who had to leave the organization they served with dedication. We see their pain and thank them for their commitment. We also thank all UNHCR staff who continue to serve people in need of international protection, in Geneva and in the field. People we cannot and will not leave behind, this is a shared responsibility. Our government takes this responsibility very seriously, and we are glad to have increased our unearmarked funding to UNHCR this year, as announced last September. The Netherlands continues to support UNHCR's mandate and acknowledges its unique role in the field of protection. We therefore note with great concern that UNHCR's protection services have been scaled down and its protection capacity eroded. Chair, we welcome the High Commissioner's 50x35 vision and encourage UNHCR to apply sustainable responses as the default operational model wherever possible, and emergency responses where necessary. UNHCR is now at a crossroads. Will this vision remain a political statement or will it be genuinely translated into practice? The Netherlands supports transitions to national systems, refugee self-reliance and durable solutions in partner countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Let me be clear. We support this agenda not to shift the burden, but to share it. Operationalization of sustainable responses requires changes in the organizational structure, the delivery model, as well as a different approach to budgeting. and a more flexible and skills-driven workforce model. Moreover, in our view, this means that UNHCR should increasingly focus on enabling protection-informed development responses in cooperation with host governments and development partners, while maintaining a limited operational footprint. UNHCR's funding outlook requires difficult but necessary decisions on budget allocations regarding its operational footprint. UNHCR cannot simply do less across the board. It needs to be strategic about where its resources can have the greatest impact. This requires a further demonstration of UNHCR's prioritization approaches and decisions. Transparency is key, not because we want to micromanage UNHCR, but because it will lead to better informed and more valuable discussions with ExCom. Moreover, it may further enhance the confidence of donors, be it donor countries or private sector entities. We are hopeful that the hybrid budget model, including an income-aligned presentation, will provide a solid base for such discussions. To ensure sound implementation of the budget, robust oversight and risk management are key. Sufficient resources and capacity for the Office of Internal Oversight are essential for effective program delivery, which benefits refugees and host communities. Chair, this year is also the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention. The Netherlands looks forward to co-hosting a global roundtable next month in The Hague with Kenya and UNHCR on responsibility sharing and lawful responses to contemporary challenges to the international protection regime. Countries of origin, transit and destination from all regions will be involved. We see it as the starting point of a series of dialogues with a broader group of interested countries leading up to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027. Chair, the coming year is likely to be as challenging as the present one. Let us work together to ensure that UNHCR emerges with a greater degree of stability and resilience. You can count on us. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Italy.

Italy is party of the statement delivered by the EU and would like to intervene also in its national capacity. First, let me pay tribute to the dedication of UNHCR staff around the world. who continues to provide protection and assistance in extremely challenging circumstances. As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Convention, we should not only and not simply look back. We should also look ahead. Refugee and mixed movements become increasingly complex, and we need to ensure that those in need of international protection can access it while preserving not only the effectiveness but also the integrity of asylum systems. This requires addressing current implementation challenges, including the management of mixed movements in a manner consistent with the principle of non-refoulement and the right to seek asylum, but as well as preventing misuse of asylum claims. Addressing the challenges associated with complex mixed movements and upholding refugee protection are not competing objectives. Let me now turn to three issues that Italy considers particularly important. First, Italy continues to expand safe and legal pathways, working closely with UNHCR and civil society. These include resettlement, humanitarian corridors, emergency evacuations, education, and labor pathways. Since 2016, humanitarian corridors have enabled more than 7,500 vulnerable persons to reach Italy safely and regularly. Italy also supports education pathways, such as the UNHCR-led University Corridors for Refugees program. Since its launch in 2019, more than 380 refugee students have reached Italy through safe and regular channels and now pursue their university studies. Second, protection and durable solutions need to reinforce each other. Providing access to protection is essential, but also creating the conditions for refugees to rebuild their lives and reduce long-term dependency on humanitarian assistance. Italy, therefore, welcomes the ambition behind UNHCR 50 by 35 initiative. We look forward to further steps on methodology and indicators, as well as continued engagement with member states as the initiative moves towards implementation. The dialogue on protection and solutions in December will provide an important opportunity to take this discussion forward. Looking ahead to the 2027 Global Refugee Forum, we hope to see further progress in translating commitments under the Global Compact on Refugees into concrete improvements for refugees and the communities that host them. Third, we wish to express our appreciations to countries and communities hosting large refugee populations. Their effort must be met by sustained and predictable international support. The route-based approach offers an important framework for strengthening cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination, as well as for improving coordination with other UN agencies and relevant partners to respond more effectively to protection needs and expand access to solutions along mixed movement routes. Mr. High Commissioner, the challenge before us is not only to reaffirm the principle of the Refugee Convention, but to ensure that their implementation continues to deliver effective protection to the ones who are genuinely entitled in an increasingly complex displacement environment. I thank you.

Thank you. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, Rwanda reaffirms its commitment to the protection and dignity of refugees and asylum seekers. At a time of rising displacement and declining humanitarian resources, we must move beyond responding to immediate needs and invest in sustainable solutions that restore dignity and create opportunities. Rwanda currently hosts more than 140,000 refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Building on our open door policy and practical solutions, Rwanda continues to implement the emergency transit mechanisms in partnership with the UNHCR and the African Union, which has helped to bring over 3,000 vulnerable people to safety. At the same time, Rwanda continues to receive its returning citizens, including 10,000 returnees over the past year. Chairperson, despite declining humanitarian funding, Rwanda advances sustainable solutions through three priorities. First, inclusion in the national systems. Starting in 2027, Rwanda will extend community-based health insurance to camp-based refugees, building on existing arrangements for urban refugees and students in boarding schools. Second, economic self-reliance. Through the Rwanda Refugee Sustainable Graduation Strategy, Rwanda is implementing the 50 by 35 vision by supporting at least 50% of refugee households to transition towards sustainable self-reliance. We appreciate the support of UNHCR and our development partners and invite them to contribute their investments in this implementation. Third, integrated settlements and shared development. Rwanda is working to progressively transform refugee camps into integrated settlements where refugees and host communities can share services and take part in economic development. These efforts require responsibility sharing through predictable financing, development investment, and partnerships that support both refugees and the host communities. Chairperson, Rwanda also prioritizes the sustainable integration of returning citizens through access to essential services, livelihood, and opportunities to contribute to their communities. We encourage UNHCR and our partners to continue supporting this people-centered approach. We welcome continued efforts toward voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriations, including through the tripartite process involving Rwanda, the DRC, and UNHCR. We appreciate the High Commissioner's engagement and emphasize that these efforts must remain guided by the dignity and aspirations of those concerned. High Commissioner, in your opening remarks, you invited this Assembly to reflect on what follows UNHCR's growing number of emergency responses. Rwanda wishes to extend the reflection to include the root causes of these forced displacement and the necessary conditions needed to prevent reoccurrences. Rwanda remains committed to working with UNHCR and its partners to advance practical and sustainable solutions. Before I conclude, Mr. Chairperson, Rwanda wishes to address the allegations made by the DRC, which we firmly reject. The worsening humanitarian crisis in the DRC cannot be used to accuse a neighboring country while ignoring the complex and long-standing causes that have yet to be addressed. First, forced displacement in the DRC is a nationwide problem, and it extends beyond the eastern provinces. Second, Forced displacement in the DRC did not begin with this current conflict. For over three decades, Rwanda and neighboring countries have hosted Congolese refugees fleeing insecurity and persecution. This is well documented within the UNHCR's own records. Furthermore, There are more than 260 armed groups in the eastern DRC, including the UN-sanctioned FDLR, which includes perpetrators that have committed the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. Rwanda takes note of the DRC's mentioned disarmament efforts with the FDLR and stresses the importance of the effective and verifiable implementation of these efforts. Rwanda calls for the greater attention to the root causes of insecurity and displacement within the DRC, including the DRC's government persistent challenges in governance, civilian protection and accountability. Mr. Chairperson, ultimately, our collective responsibilities is to the millions of people whose lives have been disrupted by displacement. Discussions during the ExCom should focus on the necessary conditions we need to enable for families to return home voluntarily in safety, peace, and dignity. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bulgaria.

Distinguished Chairperson, High Commissioner Salih. Excellencies, Bulgaria aligns itself with the statement delivered by the EU. We extend our warm welcome to the High Commissioner to his first session of the Executive Committee. We would like to thank him for outlining his vision for adaptation to an increasingly complex international environment. Bulgaria reaffirms its unwavering support for the UNHCR protection mandate. The 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention is an important opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the international protection framework. The growing complexity of mixed movements requires practical international cooperation and effective responsibility sharing. In a world facing protracted displacement, Bulgaria remains committed to upholding the dignity, rights, and security of those forced to flee. Led by this commitment, Bulgaria provided temporary protection to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. In the same context, Bulgaria works for the full implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which effectively addresses the management of migration processes and the provision of international protection. Bulgaria welcomes the emphasis on the need to accelerate the shift from prolonged dependence on humanitarian assistance towards more sustainable solutions. In this regard, we support the 50 by 35 vision as an ambitious yet feasible framework. Self-resilience should be promoted through access to education, livelihoods and employment, as well as through greater inclusion of refugees in national systems. At the same time, all available durable solutions should continue to be pursued, including voluntary return where conditions permit, resettlement and complementary pathways, as well as local integration and other appropriate legal pathways. We particularly welcome the emphasis on early engagement in countries of return where conditions allow in order to support sustainable and voluntary return and reintegration. We also recognize the importance of enabling refugees to access protection as close to their countries of origin as possible. Bulgaria welcomes the efforts to strengthen the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the UNHCR. We support the hybrid budget model, which preserves the need-driven character of UNHCR's planning while providing greater transparency regarding available and anticipated resources and how these are translated into operational priorities. We believe that the clear link between needs, resources, priorities and results will strengthen accountability. This is of paramount importance for the Member States, which also face significant budgetary challenges. We encourage closer cooperation with other UN entities in order to avoid duplication and ensure a more effective allocation and use of resources and expertise in line with the One UN approach. We also see value in strengthening the practical cooperation between the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. within their respective mandates in order to promote a more coherent and effective response across the whole spectrum of displacement and human mobility. Bulgaria will continue to support UNHCR in fulfilling its mandate and ensuring effective protection and sustainable solutions for people forced to flee their homes. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire.

Chair, on behalf of His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, I would like to convey to you my warm congratulations, Mr. Bahamsali, for your assignation at the head of our institution, and we assure you and pledge Cote d'Ivoire's full-throated support in your mandate. Cote d'Ivoire, while aligning itself with the statement made by the delegation of the DRC on behalf of the African Group, would like to also congratulate the Chair for the way that he is conducting the work of this meeting. Cote d'Ivoire decries the fact that our work is taking place in an international context characterized by persistent complex crises, the growing scope of enforced displacement and the rising tide of identity ideology, while resources dedicated to international protection run dry. In this context, the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Geneva 1951 Convention on Refugee Status and the 65th anniversary of the New York 1961 Convention on Statelessness are of particular importance. These anniversaries invite us all to renew our collective commitment to ensure the full effectiveness of these two essential instruments. For its part, Cote d'Ivoire reiterates its commitment to UNHCR's mandate. UNHCR is an essential actor in international protection, and we welcome its mobilization in the face of contemporary crises. Chair, International protection cannot only be down to host countries. Responsibility sharing, grounded in international solidarity, remains vital to ensure lasting protection in line with the Global Compact on Refugees and the commitments to eliminate statelessness. In this light, I would like to welcome the commitment of the actors in the Lomi Dialogue on National Security and Refugee Protection. They are combining their efforts to seek lasting solutions to forced displacement in the coastal countries around the Guinea Gulf. This is an opportunity for us to welcome the personal commitment of Mr. Abdou Raouf Gonon Konde, Regional Director for UNHCR in West Africa and of the Centre. His commitment injects the necessary energy to this initiative. Chair, faithful to its values of hospitality and solidarity, Cote d'Ivoire continues to welcome those who have been displaced by force, principally coming from the Sahel. The estimated figure today is 105,000. This brings to bear great and growing pressure on our core resources and social services. It's in this context that on the 31st of March last, the High Commissioner notified to the Ivorian government the cessation of financial support because of budgetary constraints. Given this situation and under the direction of His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, the Ivorian government authorized an emergency disbursement of 1 million 2,733 American dollars to ensure continuity of action supporting the displaced and to allow the resumption of activities combating statelessness which had been suspended as of April 2025. Cote d'Ivoire reaffirms its commitment to support those displaced by force and stateless persons. We call in a vein of solidarity and shared responsibility for donors and all partners to step up their support to UNHCR and to host countries with a view to consolidating the link between humanitarian action, development and peace. Thank you.

Thank you so much. I now revert to the High Commissioner for his responses. You have the floor, Mr. High Commissioner.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to start by thanking Zambia for the statement and highlighting that protections must do more than keep people safe today. I agree that they must also create self-reliance and durable solutions for tomorrow. We are grateful for the new law which allows refugees to be included in economic opportunities and to contribute to Zambia's economy, development partnerships with financial institutions and private sector. is indeed key for solutions for refugees. And I was glad to hear of the support provided by the World Bank in this regard. National-led solutions and plans are indeed critical, and I'm grateful for your leadership in this regard. Thank you, North Macedonia, for your support to our 50 by 35 vision and to UNHCR generally. Your call for collective action to address the situation of the larger number of forcibly displaced persons is highly appreciated, including addressing the root causes of displacement. Your support and commitment to the 1951 Convention is also noted with appreciation, as is your ratification of the 61 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and importantly, of having become the first country in the region to completely resolve all cases of statelessness following the dissolution of the former Socialist Republics of Yugoslavia. Thank you to Finland for expressing these strong words of support. I fully agree with you that even in a constrained funding environment, inclusive humanitarian responses must remain a priority with also a strong emphasis on disability-inclusive humanitarian action. Strengthen partnerships, especially under humanitarian reset, is indeed critical. And we are very grateful that you have underlined the continued importance of flexible funding and your own commitment to providing predictable and flexible multi-year funding. Thank you from our side. We are committed to a continued and transparent dialogue with donors, and we will also, as you flagged, continue our efforts to expand our donor base, including with the private sector. And of course, let me echo your words with sincere thanks that the resilience of our staff to continue protecting refugees and even during difficult periods of restructure is not go unnoticed. I thank the distinguished representative from the United Kingdom, also for flagging the challenges facing the asylum system, but also being clear that these challenges are not arguments for retreating from the refugee law and that this demands practical reforms. We fully agree with that. And this is indeed what we have sought to do in support of states, and there are solutions. We need to protect the asylum system. the integrity of the refugee law, including from it being abused by people who is not intended for. Thank you also for noting that humanitarian assistance is indispensable, while also recognizing, as we do, that indefinite displacement is not an endpoint and should not be accepted as a solution. On the 50 by 35, We are indeed working on developing country-led roadmaps to lead to measurable impacts with transparent reporting. Our objective is indeed for us to support inclusive policies, enable sustained returns, but doing so in a manner that clearly does not have the extraordinary contribution of refugee hosting states unnoticed. As you clearly said, inclusion is not cost-free. and we do need development actors to step in with UNHCR playing an enabling, catalytic, convening role. I look forward to engaging further with you as we take this work forward. Thank you, Lebanon, for your continued generosity in hosting large, refugee populations despite profound economic and financial crisis, limited resources, and mounting security challenges. We recognize the exceptional pressures this places on public services, host communities, and social cohesion. And thank you also for your support to the 50 by 35. And indeed, I agree with you that self-reliance must serve durable solutions, not replace them. and that access to livelihoods and national services must not and will not be equated with local integration. And these are all and will indeed have to be state-led. In this regard, your call for stronger international investment in early recovery, basic services, livelihoods, and infrastructure in Syria to enable sustained, safe, voluntary, and dignified returns is noted with appreciations. This is the way to go forward. Equally, your call for solidarity needing to be translated into action and responsibility sharing being tangible is also noted with appreciation. These calls for sharing responsibility really needs to move beyond statements and sentiment into tangible action. That is the way that we need to go forward, especially I hope that we can lean and move forward in this regard as we move towards the GRF next year. Thank you to the Republic of Korea, truly for your generous and growing funding support in UNHCR. Your contributions help sustain lives, life saving protection, and support longer term solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless people. We genuinely appreciate it. We equally value Korea's consistent commitment to the principles of the Refugee Convention, including non-refoulement, and your leadership in advancing durable solutions, including through resettlement and higher education for refugees. Your emphasis on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus is especially timely in preventing and resolving conflict, strengthening refugee Self-reliance and supporting host communities must remain central to our collective response. We welcome Korea's continuous HDP Nexus initiatives and its engagement in diplomatic efforts for peace and stability. We also take careful note of your call to reform and improve efficiency while preserving the field capacity. and expertise essential to protection, as well as sustained attention to the growing needs in Asia and the Pacific, as well as a call for greater geographical representation. We are looking forward also to advancing our partnership through the establishment of the critically important global AI hub. We in UNHCR and the other UN humanitarian agencies are really very much focused on this, and this is some tangible initiative that can help us deliver better and more efficiently. Thank you, Morocco, for your statement and also for affirming the need to finding solutions for long-term standing refugee crisis. Being a refugee is meant to be a temporary condition, is not meant to be a permanent fate. And generations should not be left without a proper horizon for a solution. Regrettably, indeed, I recognize that too often diminished funds and the vulnerability of refugees increases with that. Humanitarian funding, however, is not the only issue to be addressed. We need to really look at solutions that can move us beyond that matter. We will continue to need humanitarian assistance in order to deal with the emergency situations and the requirements of humanitarian needs, but we also need to have pathways for solutions to move beyond the situation. This is, at the end of the day, the central theme of the 50 by 35. You have mentioned the situation in Tandoof and the areas surrounding it. I acknowledge having people in a situation of refugees and in camps for 50 years is truly not an acceptable situation. Solutions will have to be fundamentally rooted in free and voluntary choices for refugees and by being offered the options by which they can really take on to move beyond the unfortunate reality that they have endured for so long. I thank Malta for its continued support for UNHCR, the 1951 1951 Refugee Convention and the protection of humanitarian personnel. And I thank Malta for co-sponsoring the side event at the United Nations General Assembly marking the 75th anniversary. Your emphasis on addressing the root causes of displacement, upholding international humanitarian law and advancing durable solutions is vital. I also welcome Malta's new integration strategy and five-year action plan. and his effort to strengthen inclusion through access to education, employment, housing, languages, and learning and psychological support. At the time of declining resources, Malta's support for a focused, efficient, and rights-based UNHCR is deeply valued. Your recognition of the dedication of UNHCR staff working in conflict situations and under extremely difficult circumstances is also much appreciated. Thank you, Netherlands, for recognizing our period of change and for recognizing and thanking our colleagues for their dedicated work, also for increasing your unearmarked funding to NSCR. We are deeply grateful. We are committed to translating the 50 by 35 into concrete practice. This is why, indeed, we are developing a country-by-country roadmap, and the aim is, indeed, not to shift, but to support the responsibilities and the transitions. The funding outlook, indeed, requires difficult decisions. We will not do less across the board. We cannot do that. We cannot. And we will be taking a strategic look at see how we are making the best impact. and prioritize, and we are committing to do so in transparency, including presentation we will be making next year after ExCom on our funding-based programs. Many of you in this hall realize that we have ongoing member state briefing and conversation here in Geneva and also at capital levels. I think we must all be honest in recognizing is simply this is not possible to do everything with what we have. We have to prioritize. And it is not just simply a case of doing more with less. We have to make choices, some of which may not be easy. So while we continue to prioritize our work, we can have the best impact in particular on protection and making sure that that core mandate is addressed and maintained. There has inevitably been impact in areas that we would not have liked to, but we will try and deal with it as much as we can. And we need your collective support to making sure that we are able to navigate this. situation in a way that our co-mandates in these areas are not impacted. Thank you, Italy, for your continued partnership and recognizing the dedication of UNHCR colleagues working in challenging and difficult conditions around the world. I welcome Italy's emphasis on ensuring access to seek asylum and respect non-refoulement while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the asylum system in the context of increasingly complex mixed movements. Asylum systems needs to be protected, including from abuse. Italy's Leadership in expanding safe and legal pathways, including humanitarian corridors, resettlement and education opportunities, offers concrete protection and solutions. And I want to note with particular appreciation your pathway giving access to refugees to tertiary education. This is so critical to give a future to refugees and the purpose behind the initiative on aiming higher that we will be sharing with you soon, I hope. Your support in this regard is really and truly appreciated. I also welcome your support for predictable assistance to refugee hosting nations. And I'm pleased to hear that you too believe in route-based approach offers an important framework for strengthening cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination, as well as for improving coordination with other UN agencies and relevant partners. These priorities will be central as we take our shared work forward. Thank you, Rwanda, for your statement and in particular for your great support of hosting the emergency transit mechanism. The lifesaving work in this context cannot be underestimated. Thank you. Your policies, including inclusion in national systems and in economic self-reliance, and your work in transforming refugee camps into integrated settlements are truly noteworthy. I also recognize that these efforts require responsibility sharing. Thank you also for your continued efforts towards voluntary, safe, dignified repatriation, including through the tripartite process involving Rwanda, DRC, and UNSCR. And this is part of the Washington Accord and the Doha process that we are all trying to really move forward. We must maintain and remain our engagement in this field is very important and means a lot of difference to people's lives. Thank you, Bulgaria, for your continued commitment to the International Refugee Protection Framework, your support for the 50 by 35 vision, noting that it's ambitious but realizable, is much appreciated. And indeed, durable solutions must continue to be pursued with support to countries of origin, enable sustained voluntary repatriations. On the budget, as indicated, we look forward to remaining engaged in a transparent manner as to the hybrid model to be pursued. Thank you, Cote d'Ivoire, for the continued generosity in hosting people forced to flee, including those arriving from the Sahel. We recognize the pressure this places on national resources and essential services, particularly amid funding shortfalls. I also welcome your government's swift action to sustain assistance and restart efforts to prevent and reduce statelessness. We share your call, of course, for stronger international solidarity and more predictable support for host countries, and we all will call continue with our efforts, as he flagged, to link protection and humanitarian action with development and peace efforts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. High Commissioner. I will now continue with the general debate, and I have next the distinguished representative of Egypt, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chairperson. We align with the statements by the groups to which we belong. We welcome the High Commissioner and his colleagues and support their efforts under their mandate. to protect asylum seekers and refugees and meet their needs. We welcome the High Commissioner's visit to Egypt last June, which reflected the cooperation that we have with HCR. This dates from 70 years back. We thank HCR for its positive comments on the refugee integration system in Egypt and the 2024 law. This is a legislative effort to resolve issues pertaining to refugees and asylum seekers in order to comply with international and regional commitments and the Convention on the Status of Refugees as well as the African Union Convention. This year we see the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention and we reiterate support to that instrument. which is crucial in refugee protection. It provides a clear legal framework to promote the basic rights of refugees and uphold their dignity. The convention is important given the flows of migrants and the growing humanitarian needs. which place a burden on host countries, particularly middle-income countries, which have large refugee populations. This emphasizes the importance of international solidarity to provide ongoing protection for refugees and their dignity. We are concerned at the reductions in financing in HCR, given the impact that that will have on the ground. With growing humanitarian needs and associated costs, under the international indicators, Egypt has seen an enormous rise, the second in the list, we have over a million refugees, registered with HCR, and millions of asylum seekers and IDPs using our services, particularly education and health, because our policy is based on non-discrimination. We hope that HCR can take into account these needs when establishing its budget and provide support to the relevant projects. The needs of people in need within the host countries must be taken into account. Host countries must be supported through cost sharing and responsibility sharing. That is an important element of the Global Compact. There must be more balanced treatment. We cannot have a hierarchy of solutions. Refugees remain in host countries as a temporary solution. The solution of voluntary return and repatriation, these are more sustainable and we are ready to participate in dialogue with the High Commissioner on a sustainable return next year in order to provide positive input to the next Global Forum on Refugees. We thank the High Commissioner and the staff of HCR for their efforts. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Belarus extends greetings to the High Commissioner, Baham Saleh, and wishes him success in his responsible mission to protect the rights and dignity of millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and a better life. We commend the commitment by the High Commissioner and his team to making HCR more resilient and able more effectively to provide protection and find solutions for refugees and their host countries. Chairperson, for nine months now, HCR has been working in Belarus in a new format, that of a multi-country office, and we welcome the focus of its leadership and the country team on cooperation with the relevant government agencies and local authorities, as well as Belarusian public organisations. We appreciate the activities by HCR to improve the capacity and skills of specialists of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, working with refugees and asylum seekers. Joint outreach work by the Department of Citizenship and of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and HCR with students and young specialists in the framework of the annual Summer School on Refugee Law and Statelessness is also to be commended. HCR's visits to the border regions of Belarus contribute to effective cooperation with local authorities to address practical issues, and cooperation with the State Border Committee makes it possible for HCR to familiarize itself with the border situation. We appreciate the activities of the Coordination Forum for Refugees to support the efforts of the Government of Belarus to provide assistance to refugees from Ukraine. fellows shared the High Commissioner's approach on the need to combine humanitarian assistance with the needs to search for durable solutions for the independence of people forced to flee their homes at the same time it is crucial to maintain a comprehensive approach sustainable solutions must take into account the specific circumstances of each situation respect state sovereignty based on international law and ensure that return is voluntary safe and dignified achieving the goal of 50 by 35 cannot be Possible without addressing the root causes of forced displacement, the most sustainable solution is peace, security, conflict resolution, and the creation of conditions for a dignified return of people to their homes. In Belarus, including with HCR's support, a comprehensive system for the protection of asylum seekers has been created. Over the past 25 years, over 20,000 people from 83 countries have applied for refugee status or protection in our country. Two thirds of them have received subsidiary protection and refugee status. Over the past 10 years, the number of stateless people in Belarus has almost halved. Our policy aims not only at humanitarian assistance to refugees, stateless persons and people granted protection, but also at providing tangible assistance in expanding their ability to build an independent future. The vast majority of them have a permanent residence permit. And like citizens of Belarus, they have access to the labor market and various services in the field of healthcare and education. Many of them have been granted Belarusian citizenship. Thus, in 2026 alone, over 500 people from 28 countries received Belarusian citizenship. Chairperson, unfortunately, the situation on our western borders continues to be difficult. Cooperation with the Belarusian side is replaced by the introduction of illegal sanctions, the construction of walls and fences, the dissemination of insinuations about alleged hybrid threats and the instrumentalisation of migrants. Against this background, our Western neighbors continue brutally, forcibly to push potential asylum seekers into Belarus. Unfortunately, people often die as a result. We are convinced that dialogue is needed between neighboring countries. Only joint discussion and joint efforts can be an effective way to solve all of these issues. including providing protection. And Belarus is open to the resumption of normal interaction with neighboring EU states in order jointly to reduce the level of cross-border challenges and threats and manage mixed migration flows. Chairperson, for 25 years Belarus has been a party to the Convention on the Status of Refugees, the 75th anniversary of which we celebrate this year. Belarus intends to continue strictly to comply with its obligations under this international treaty, which is the basis both for the successful functioning of the national asylum system and constructive international cooperation in this area. We have always supported the noble mission of HCR and we have advocated a constructive professional dialogue with all partners. We intend to contribute to the development of international cooperation in the field of protection and the search for effective, sustainable solutions to refugee issues. I thank you.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I will now suspend the list of speakers until this afternoon, when we will resume at 3 p.m. Before we conclude, I would like to give the floor to the Secretary for an announcement. Ms. Kjaer, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chairperson, distinguished delegates, I wish to inform you that the side event Four Years On Protecting Lives, Preserving Asylum and Advancing Solutions will take place at 1:30 p.m. in Concordia Room 1, located on level 2 below us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Kjaer. The third meeting of the 77th plenary session of the Executive Committee is adjourned.