Briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Security Council, 10229th meeting

The 10,229th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is: Briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite Mr. Barham Saleh, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I would like to welcome the High Commissioner for Refugees for his first official interaction with the Security Council, and I want to assure him that he has support for his work and his organization. I now give the floor to Mr. Barham Salih.

Mr. President, Thank you for the opportunity to address the Security Council. For more than two decades, this Council has invited the High Commissioner for Refugees to brief on the global state of forced displacement and the situation of refugees and others under the UNHCR mandate. I am grateful to France as President of the Council this month for the opportunity to deliver my first such briefing as High Commissioner. Today, more than 117 million people have been forced to flee their homes by conflict, violence, persecution, and other threats to their safety. This is important. because forced displacement tells us something fundamental about the state of our world. Displacement is rapidly outpacing solutions. Conflicts are multiplying, many are becoming more protracted, political solutions remain elusive, and millions of people who fled what they hoped would be a temporary crisis find themselves displaced for years, sometimes for generations. This is not only a humanitarian challenge. It is fundamentally a challenge to international peace and security. And that is why this discussion belongs here. Mr. President, humanitarian organizations deal every day with the consequences of conflict. We protect people forced to flee. We support countless countries and communities that receive them. And we work to help people find a way out of displacement. But humanitarians cannot create peace. The Charter entrusts this Council with a unique responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. That responsibility matters profoundly to the millions of refugees, internally displaced and stateless persons that UNHCR serves. A ceasefire that holds can allow a family to remain at home. A peace agreement can allow refugees return. to their homes. Mr. President, we see this very clearly today in Sudan. Sudan remains one of the largest displacement crisis in the world. Millions have been displaced inside and outside the country. And during my first month as High Commissioner, I visited Chad, Kenya, Ethiopia and Egypt, and I met Sudanese refugees who have fled horrific violence. I also saw the extraordinary solidarity of countries that received them. They cannot shoulder the consequences of this conflict alone. Civilians inside Sudan must be protected and humanitarian organizations need safe and sustained access. But none of this changes the fundamental reality. As long as this war continues, people will be forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian assistance can keep people alive. It cannot give Sudan the peace its people need to return and rebuild. There is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan. There needs to be a humanitarian truce and to really start a serious dialogue, including with civilians, to pave the way for a durable peace. I urge this Council to use its influence collectively and individually, to help bring this devastating conflict to an end. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, generations have now lived through cycles of conflict and displacement. Their plight is further compounded by the Ebola crisis. Children are born into displacement. Families flee repeatedly, communities attempt to rebuild only to be uprooted again. The Washington Peace Accord and the Doha Declaration, which reference my mandate, offer important openings towards greater peace and stability. I would like to inform the Council that on the 22nd of June, I chaired the tripartite ministerial meeting on voluntary repatriation. We as UNHCR are committed to maintaining that process, hopefully to successful conclusions. For displaced people, the real test of peace process is whether it changes conditions on the ground, whether people can return in safety, rebuild and have confidence that they will not be forced to flee again. I urge the Council to help sustain that momentum and support the implementation of the commitments that have already been made. In Ukraine, the war continues to exact an enormous human cost. Civilians continue to be killed and injured, homes and essential infrastructure destroyed, and families uprooted. Millions remain displaced inside Ukraine, while millions more have sought refuge in other countries. I visited Ukraine earlier this year and saw both the consequences of war and the extraordinary determination of Ukrainians to rebuild their lives. Ukraine needs peace, and Ukrainians need solutions, but recovery cannot wait for the war to end. In Western Sahara, displacement has persisted for more than half a century. Generations of Sahrawi refugees have grown up in Tindouf and camps nearby, facing uncertainty and limited prospects. Today, conditions are deteriorating, and humanitarian needs remain significantly underfunded. But after more than 50 years, managing displacement indefinitely cannot be the measure of our collective ambition. The status quo is untenable, unsustainable, and genuinely, truly inhumane. There is growing urgency to move this situation forward. Options exist today that did not exist years back. Solutions must start with refugees themselves recognizing different aspirations and ensuring informed voluntary choices about the future. UNHCR is ready to play its part. Principle on protection and firmly focus on practical solutions that give Sahrawi refugees genuine agency over the future. We're working with a special envoy for the Secretary-General and also with the United States and other interested parties to make sure that this process moves forward. While some crises have persisted for generations, other risks becoming the protracted crisis for tomorrow. The latest escalation is also very disconcerting and seen Yemen's deepening humanitarian crisis where civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict. Tens of thousands of people have already been displaced by the recent escalation and hostilities with thousands fleeing the conflict, looking for safety in Djibouti and elsewhere, and more crossings are reported to be underway. In response, UNHCR has declared an initial level one emergency for Yemen, Djibouti and Somalia, enabling the rapid mobilization of resources and staff to scale up our response through cash assistance, shelter and protection. I join the Secretary-General in calling for the immediate and conditional release of all UN personnel and other humanitarian workers arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities. Mr. President, last week I was in Mali and Burkina Faso. where more than 4 million people are forcibly displaced across the region as violence, insecurity, climate shocks, and food insecurity compound one another. Displacement does not stop at national borders, nor does insecurity that drives it. Across a broad arc from the Horn of Africa and through the Sahel, terrorism and violent extremism are placing growing pressures on the states and communities. These are not simply regional threats. Their consequences for peace and security, development and displacement should concern us all. I know from my own country's experience that confronting terrorism requires sustained international cooperation and hard-won security gains cannot be lost. The international community must support states in confronting these threats, but security responses alone will not deliver lasting stability. Security and protection are not competing objectives. They must reinforce one another. The Sahel is at a critical juncture. There is real urgency, but there is also opportunity. We must support the states confronting insecurity while investing in people and a solution so that today's crisis does not become another generation of conflict and displacement. And we must not lose sight of the plight of the Rohingyas. More than 1.2 million stateless Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh. while conflict and grave protection risks continue in Myanmar. More than nine years after the mass displacement of 2017, an entire generation of Rohingya children are growing in exile. The solution to the Rohingya crisis lies in Myanmar. Conditions do not currently exist for voluntary return, but that cannot become a reason for accepting the status quo. I urge the Council to remain actively engaged in efforts to end the conflict and create conditions in Myanmar in which Rohingya refugees can eventually return voluntarily, safely, and with dignity as nationals. Mr. President, these situations are profoundly different, but they illustrate the same fundamental truth. When peace fails, people move. And when they do, they must be able to find protection. I appeal to this Council. Use your political influence to end the conflicts and sustain peace processes, protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law. Preserve asylum and uphold the principle of non-refoulement. Invest in solutions from the outset and support countries that host refugees and those to which they return. This is at the heart of the 1951 Refugee Convention, whose 75th anniversary we mark this year. 75 years ago, in the aftermath of the of a world shattered by war, nations established a simple and a vital principle. People forced to flee persecution would be protected and would not be returned to danger. During my first missions as High Commissioner, I met people who crossed borders not because they wanted to become refugees, but because staying at home became impossible. That is what asylum is for. States have the right to manage their borders. The convention does not diminish state sovereignty in applying its laws. It is one of the most practical instruments for the protection of the international community has created. And asylum has another purpose that is particularly relevant to this Council. Asylum is a bridge to peace. It protects people when peace has failed, while preserving the possibility that when conditions allow, they can return home voluntarily, safely, and with dignity. Today, asylum systems are under strain, Those pressures must be addressed, but they cannot become a reason to retreat from the fundamental principles of the refugee protection. The Refugee Convention has endured for 75 years and has delivered for humanity because its fundamental purpose remains necessary and because it offers response to contemporary challenges. Our responsibility remains to ensure that. these principles are preserved, applied in a proper way so that it can deal with the challenges of the future. Mr. President, protecting people when they are forced to flee is indispensable, but protection is not an objective in itself, and it must continue until solutions are found. We cannot, we should not, accept an ever-expanding system of permanent displacement as inevitable. Refugees have told me again and again that they do not want their lives to be defined by displacement. This is the purpose of the 50 by 35 vision that I have launched earlier this year. Our ambition is to reduce by half by 2035, the number of refugees in long-term displacement who remain reliant on humanitarian assistance. It is ambitious. I acknowledge it's a highly ambitious goal. It must be. But we have to recognize keeping people alive year after year while they remain unable to rebuild their lives cannot be our end goal. Every context will be different. We must expand opportunities for inclusion and self-reliance while accelerating progress towards solutions. Voluntary return where conditions permit, third country pathways and opportunities for local integrations or alternative legal status. And we need to work differently. Refugees and returnees need to be included in national development plans and systems. Development financing must support host communities and countries of return. And solutions must be part of recovery and peacebuilding from the outset, not as an afterthought. I saw this recently in Syria. Since December 2024, some 3.8 million Syrians displaced abroad or within the country have returned to their homes. Their determination to rebuild is unmistakable. But determination alone cannot rebuild a country. Syria needs international engagement and investment in recovery so that those who choose to return can stay and rebuild. I want to remind ourselves, for more than a decade, Syria was a headline about violence, displacement, and onward movements. Now, Syria has the opportunity of seeing large numbers of refugees and displaced people going back to their homes and rebuilding their lives. We must not lose that opportunity. We must be engaged to making sure that this is realized. The same is true in Afghanistan. By the end of this year, we expect nearly 8 million Afghans to be returned to their areas. Admittedly, many in adverse circumstances and not entirely voluntary. Many returned amid severe humanitarian situations and significant restrictions, especially on the rights of women and girls, and communities, to communities that are already struggling with poverty, limited services, and few economic opportunities. Return, I want to say, is an event, a solution is what comes after. People need to build and rebuild their lives in safety and in dignity, support their families, and have reasonable prospects to remain in their homes. That requires humanitarian assistance, but also development, investment, livelihoods, and functioning national systems. And above all, where displacement is caused by conflict, it requires a political solution. That is the shift at the heart of the 50x35 vision, from managing displacement indefinitely towards resolving it. And I also have to say, UNSCR must also adapt and change too. We are reforming our organization to make it leaner, more agile, and more focused on the field, directing our resources where they can deliver the greatest protection and most solutions. Working to the aims and objectives of UN 80, And within the humanitarian reset, we are engaged in serious fundamental reforms to make sure that our organization is able to deliver effectively and efficiently and with accountability. Reform is not an end to itself. It is about making sure that UNHCR can deliver its mandate in this radically changing world. Mr. President, humanitarians will continue to do our part. We will protect people forced to flee. We will stand with the countries and communities that receive them. And we will pursue every opportunity for solutions. But we must also be careful about how we define success. Success cannot be that we become better at keeping people alive through another year of war. It cannot be that a refugee camp established in response to an emergency is still there 50 years later. It cannot be that children inherit displacement from their parents. Success must ultimately mean creating the conditions in which people no longer need us. 75 years ago, the Refugee Convention established a promise to protect people when peace fails. We must keep that promise. But our collective ambition must also be greater to prevent displacement where we can, resolve it where it has occurred, and create the conditions which people can rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. Ultimately, the most durable solution to force displacement is peace. And you around this table carry a unique responsibility to help make peace possible. For the millions of people forced from their homes and the millions more who should never have to flee, I urge this great Council to use that responsibility. Thank you so very much, Mr. President.

I thank the High Commissioner for Refugees for his statement. And I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Nabeel Munir, Additional Foreign Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President, and a very good morning, everyone. Let me begin by thanking the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Philippe Boham Solly, for his comprehensive briefing. We commend UNHCR and its personnel for protecting and assisting displaced populations, often in extremely difficult circumstances. And as the High Commissioner just said, the global displacement crisis remains staggering. Millions remain uprooted from their homes and communities, forced to flee from conflict, persecution, foreign occupation, instability and deprivation. Protracted crises continue to degenerate displacement, even as new humanitarian emergencies emerge. Yet, as displacement increases, international solidarity is understained. Humanitarian resources are declining, resettlement opportunities remain inadequate, and countries neighboring conflict zones continue to shoulder disproportionate responsibility. Pakistan knows this reality firsthand. For more than four decades, we have hosted millions of Afghans, extending protection and hospitality despite considerable economic and security challenges. Our experience demonstrates both the importance of international solidarity and the limits of expecting host countries to carry protracted refugee situations indefinitely. We therefore emphasize four priorities. First, We must address the root causes of displacement. Conflict prevention and resolution must be at the centre of the Security Council's work. The Council must act to prevent new conflicts, resolve protracted disputes, and promote mediation and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter and the international law. Humanitarian action can mitigate the consequences of conflict, but only political solutions can sustainably prevent displacement. Second, equitable burden and responsibility sharing must be operationalized. Refugee hosting countries require timely, adequate and predictable international assistance. Such support should strengthen healthcare, education, livelihoods, and infrastructure for refugees and host communities alike, and should be provided primarily through grants rather than loans that compound the fiscal pressures of host countries. Third, resettlement must become more predictable and credible. Developed countries should establish multi-year resettlement programs with clear commitments accelerate processing, and honor pledges already made. Legal and complementary pathways, including family reunification, education, and labor mobility, should also be expanded. And finally, voluntary repatriation and sustainable reintegration must receive greater international support. Return must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, and backed by adequately funded programs. Enhanced development assistance and investment in housing, livelihoods, healthcare, education, and essential infrastructure in countries of origin are indispensable for ensuring that return is sustainable. Mr. President, ultimately, the measure of our collective response must go beyond how effectively we manage displacement to whether we can help bring it to an end. Our shared objective must be a world where fewer people are forced to flee and where those displaced can return home in safety, dignity, and peace. Thank you.

I thank His Excellency, Mr. Nabil Mounir, for his statement. And I now give a most cordial welcome to His Excellency, Mr. Javier Martinez Acha Vasquez, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Panama. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, President. We would like to thank the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Refugees for his statement and, above all, for the work that UNHCR is doing in some of the most difficult places in the world. President, there are numbers that describe a crisis and there are numbers that force us to take a hard look at ourselves as human beings. Toward the end of last year, over 117 million people were forcibly displaced across the world as a consequence of persecution, conflicts, violence, violations of human rights, and other circumstances that destroy daily life. But behind those 117 million, we can't really talk about a number. There are mothers, there are children, there is a father that left home without knowing whether he would return. There is a family that walked for days with what little they could carry. And there is a person that after losing Their home had to learn how to pronounce a new word, protection. 75 years ago, the international community adopted the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951. And this was done after one of the darkest chapters of our history with a simple but profound conviction. No human being should be left alone in the face of persecution. Panama believes that that conviction remains fully relevant because our region knows what displacement and exile. We know what migration means, and we also know what solidarity means. This is why, for Panama, speaking about refugees does not mean speaking just about statistics, procedures, or borders. It's about human dignity. Excellencies, there is something especially painful about this crisis. Forced displacement is leaving an imprint upon an entire generation. Around 39% of refugees and other people needing international protection are children. Boys and girls that should be learning how to read, and instead they're learning how to survive. Boys and girls that should be wondering what they want to be when they grow up, and instead they are wondering where they will sleep tonight. Each refugee child asks us a question that this council cannot ignore. What world are we building for those that bear no responsibility for the wars that force them to flee? Women and girls also face specific risks, including sexual violence and gender-based violence. Older adults and people living with disabilities face additional obstacles to access basic services. This is why our response shouldn't just be quick, it should be human, accessible, inclusive. and sensitive to the needs of each person. Excellencies, Mr. President, we must also speak about those that open their doors. 75% of refugees and people needing international assistance remain in countries that are close to their countries of origin, and a significant percentage is hosted by low-income and middle-income countries. This means that international solidarity cannot just mean asking others to bear a responsibility that is truly collective. Solidarity must be spread around. Host countries need resources, and host communities need support. National systems need strengthening and people who are displaced need something more than just emergency assistance. They need a real opportunity to rebuild their lives. That is why my country is concerned by the deterioration of UNHCR's financial situation. The organization is facing growing needs at a moment when available resources are insufficient. For 2026, UNHCR has estimated financing needs of $8.5 billion. And when resources wane, we're not just talking about a budget line. We're talking about less protection, fewer shelters, less assistance, less education, and fewer opportunities for family unification, and ultimately, less hope. International solidarity cannot just be a beautiful word in a UN resolution. It must become resources, institutions, and tangible actions. Excellencies, Panama would like to speak about this issue responsibly because we are living it. Our country is a member state is a state party of the 1951 Convention and has a national protection system through our national office to provide support for refugees and our national commission for protecting refugees. But for Panama, protecting refugees cannot be distilled into merely legal aid. The true test of any protection system is whether that person that comes to a country help, find somebody to listen. If that person is able to obtain ID documents, to access health and education, to access employment opportunities, and whether their children can re-enroll in school, and whether they can live without fear, and whether the state says, "You are not alone." Panama works with the UN, HCR, and national institutions, as well as civil society and host communities in order to strengthen that protection capacity and that capacity for integration. And we want to be clear about this. Panama does not see refugees as people who merely need help. We see refugees as people with capacities, with dignity, with talent, and with the right to rebuild his or her life. Integration does not mean erasing differences. It means allowing a person to contribute once again to society, President. And we should also be equally clear on something else. Humanitarian protection must not become an excuse to accept permanent displacement. Our ultimate goal cannot be to eternally administer suffering. The goal should be to put an end to the conditions that produce that suffering. That is why voluntary returns can be a source of hope, but only when they are voluntary, safe, dignified, and informed. It is not enough to tell a person to go back home. We must ask ourselves, is there safety? Are there homes available? Are there schools available? Are there hospitals? Are documents available? Is there work? or there guarantees that that person will not be persecuted again. Going back home is not just about crossing a border. Going back home means being able to stay present. We see this in Ukraine. We see this in Syria, in Sudan, in Afghanistan. We see it in Myanmar, where the Rohingya crisis continues to leave hundreds of thousands of refugees behind and where there are still huge obstacles for a sustainable return. We see it in Yemen. we see it in our own region. Venezuela continues to be one of the largest cases of population displacement of our time, and many countries in our region continue to provide protection and continue to host refugees. And this process will improve when democratic conditions allow for all political leaders to participate in rebuilding Venezuela's future. And Haiti is a reminder that displaced can also happen within the borders of a country. Over half a million people were internally displaced just last year. Each situation is different, but they all carry the same lesson. Nobody voluntarily leaves their home when or if staying means putting their life at risk. President, the Security Council has a specific responsibility. Each time a war breaks out, the number of refugees can increase. However, each time a war ends, we can embark on the journey to go home. That is why our task cannot simply be responding to consequences. We must act upon the causes. We must prevent conflicts, protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access. We must defend international law. We must fight against impunity, and we must support host countries and create the conditions so that people can rebuild their lives. because each refugee is also a question to the Security Council, a question about the war that led them to flee, the war that forced them out of their house or their home, and the international community that welcomed them, and our will to one day make it possible for them to go back home. President, allow me to conclude. with a profoundly Panamanian conviction. Panama is a transit country, is a point of encounter and opportunities. Our history has taught us that borders can separate territories, but they cannot separate human dignity. This is why we want Panama to be recognized not just as a country that has opened its doors. We want to be a country that protects A country that fulfills its international obligations, a country that has strengthened its institutions, and a country that cooperates with UNHCR, a country that supports its host communities, a country that understands that protecting a refugee is not some kind of generous act. It is actually a duty of humanity in a world where millions of people have lost their homes and their safety, and oftentimes even hope, we must be capable of giving something more than just a place to wait it out. We must give them the possibility of starting over. Because true solidarity is not just opening a door. It means seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on the other side of that threshold. And as long as people have to flee for their lives, Panama will continue advocating for the following. No human being should lose their home or their dignity. I thank you.

I thank His Excellency, Mr. Vasquez, for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Mr. President. And we're delighted to see the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Saleh, here. Russia reiterates its unswerving support for the office headed up by Mr. Sally. The agency is increasingly in demand given the deteriorating humanitarian situation all over the world and the challenges that stand before the international community. President, this year we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, a key instrument which seeks to realize the rights and interests of this category. And yet, some of its provisions continue to draw very little attention on the part of the international community to this day. the recent situation related to the influx of migrants to Ceuta. which showed the contradictory approaches of European states to the principle enshrined in the preamble, that is, preventing tensions related to the status of refugees, given the social and humanitarian nature of this problem. Instead of showing solidarity, the leaders of 22 EU countries signed a joint letter accusing Spain of undermining the security of the Union's external borders. Some went so far as to say that they are suspending the application of the Schengen Treaty. Populist slogans rained down, announcing imminent total deportation. At the same time, we all know full well that, aside from economic migrants, refugees from areas of serious armed conflict, for instance Africa and the Middle East, were among the arrivals in Ceuta. Having said that, the principle of non-refoulement was never particularly popular in Europe. As a consequence, the Mediterranean route has earned the reputation of one of the deadliest maritime routes in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration. Despite the fact that the number of migrants arriving in Europe has fallen by 39% this year, the number of lives lost in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean continues to grow. This trend is visible in Greece, Italy and, once again, Spain. Since the start of this year, at least 2,292 people died or have gone missing. This is more than the 1,999 people who were in this category during the same period last year. And this excludes many shipwrecks and disappearances which go unregistered. Hence, the real number of dead is likely much higher. It's worth noting that European countries, who loudly proclaim their commitment to upholding human rights and calling for the fight against impunity, it would appear that in this case they believe this doesn't apply. At least we're unaware of any court cases related to the situation. Meanwhile, civil society is calling for investigations, directly naming the Frontex agency, singling it out. Mr President, The Russian Federation is hosting and assisting a large number of refugees and forcibly displaced migrants hailing from various states. We are providing high volumes of humanitarian assistance, bilaterally and multilaterally. We are assisting countries of origin as they seek to create the right conditions for these migrants to return. The Russian Federation is also hosting refugees from Ukraine. After the bloody, anti-constitutional coup d'etat which involved foreign interference back in 2014, nationalists acceded to power, and these nationalists waged a civil war against the people of the Donbas. They also ran a persecution campaign. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Russians and Russian speakers from our neighbor fled to the Russian Federation. The mass exodus continued over the next few years, given that the Ukrainian armed forces continued to strike civilian cities in the DPR, LPR, the Kherson and the Zaporizhzhia regions, which are now part of the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation is hosting these people, we're providing them all kinds of assistance on employment, on access to social benefits. For us, these people are our kin. They can always count on finding in Russia not just somewhere to flee, but also a home, so that they can become part of our multinational nation once again. Having said that, for Europe, Ukrainian refugees are something that can be conveniently manipulated. First, these states demonstratively gave Ukrainians privileged status above that of people from other regions. They loudly boasted about this, and now Europeans are starting to get tired of being such consummate hosts. According to opinion polls, fewer and fewer European citizens support the idea of their states becoming a safe haven for Ukrainians. For instance, in the Polish Juliusz-Milaszewski Center for Dialogue, they found that starting in 2023, Poles' negative attitudes to Ukrainians rose from 17 to 43 percent. And according to a study conducted by the CBOS lab, 52 percent of those polled said that Poland should not host Ukrainians from Ukraine. On top of that, 54 percent of those polled believe that the assistance provided to Ukraine is too extensive. Against this backdrop, recent EU decisions are very telling. They are trying to send Ukrainian men back to their homeland. Their fate has already been decided. There are so many videos online where you can see for yourselves Ukrainian men who don't want to fight against Russia. You can see them being beaten up and being pulled, dragged by their legs to buses, which will then be sent to the front. And yet Europeans who constantly, regularly say that they're committed to the principle of non-refoulement, perfectly happy to cooperate with the Zelensky regime on this issue. Because these men are just an instrument the West is using to wage war on Russia. Their rights, their future, much like the future of Ukraine, is of no interest to European colonizers. Mr. President, against the backdrop of today's briefing, we cannot but mention the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. In this context, what's particularly important is maintaining and wholeheartedly supporting the work of UNRWA, which is providing real assistance to Palestinian refugees. They are a pillar. UNRWA is a pillar of humanitarian, educational, medical, and social support to Palestinians. We pay particular attention and attach great importance to support for the work of returns of Syrian refugees. According to the refugee agency, starting in December of 2024, 1.8 million Syrians returned to their country. We believe creating enabling conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons is a key step on the path towards long-term stabilization and reunification of Syria, ensuring that the rights of all citizens are realized irrespective of their nationality or their religion. Against this backdrop, we support the refugee agencies to ensure voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. Yet we wish to also underscore that the return process should not go hand in hand with any artificial conditions. It should not be politicized. Because what's happening is anytime anyone interferes, ordinary people, the citizens of these countries, are suffering. We shouldn't forget this. Mr. President, the Russian Federation is committed to its obligations as regards refugees. We're not just offering assistance to those seeking protection. in people who enjoy protection, but we are contributing year in, year out to the budget of the agency. Despite the obstacles that are being erected in our path, we stand convinced that the most effective way of resolving the problem of forced migration is addressing the root causes which are compelling people to leave their homeland. By way of conclusion, we wish to thank Mr. Salih once again. Under your leadership, the work being done by the agencies depoliticized. It's humanitarian. This is fully in keeping with the statute. Any work done on addressing the migration challenge should be done in keeping with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Any measures taken should be undertaken with the consent of the countries in which they are implemented. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you to High Commissioner Saleh for your briefing and for the work your teams are doing in incredibly difficult circumstances. As we heard today, over 100 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide. For more than two-thirds of refugees, displacement is not a passing crisis. It lasts five years or more with no durable solution in sight. A childhood spent entirely in a camp, a home never returned to, a family still waiting to rebuild. 75 years after the adoption of the Refugee Convention, this is the clearest possible case for change. The United Kingdom supports UNHCR's 50 by 35 vision. Our focus must be on helping people move beyond prolonged displacement rather than leaving them trapped in exile and unable to rebuild their lives. But delivering that shift requires change. It starts with protection. We need asylum systems that work for refugees, host communities and the member states that sustain them. That means strengthening our collective ability to distinguish fairly between refugees and migrants. It also means confronting the organized criminal networks that profit from dangerous journeys. To protect protection, asylum systems must be credible, effective and trusted by the people and governments that sustain them. Change also means backing nationally led solutions and development interventions, and the United Kingdom is putting that into practice. We are working with international financial institutions to direct development finance towards refugee hosting countries. that helps ensure host communities are not left to carry the burden alone and supports the inclusion of refugees into national systems. We're also working in more than 50 countries, including efforts to bring nearly 200,000 refugee children into national education systems. But fundamentally, we must confront why people are fleeing in the first place, war, instability, repression. This Council exists to address precisely those threats. Yet too often we respond to displacement rather than helping to prevent it. In Sudan, that means uniting behind a ceasefire to end the conflict driving displacement. In Syria, it means supporting stability that enables safe and sustainable return. In Yemen, it means de-escalating a conflict that is once again driving displacement and humanitarian suffering, and recommitting to a UN-led political process. This Council has the tools to address the root causes of displacement. What it needs is the political will to use them. The 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention is a moment to show that the system can adapt. The United Kingdom will use this anniversary year and the road to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027 to work with UNHCR, international financial institutions and member states to keep the system credible, sustainable and fit for today's world. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for her statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of the DRC.

President, the Democratic Republic of the Congo would like to thank France for convening this briefing. We also wish to extend our gratitude to Mr. Barham Salih for his briefing. We welcome this meeting, which is of particular importance given the scope and the persistent nature of forced displacement. Confronted with this reality, the DRC first and foremost wishes to reiterate its commitment to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. And this year, we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Convention. The Convention is a key pillar of international protection. And this for millions of people compelled to flee conflict, persecution, and human rights violations. Mr. President, for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, forced displacement is not a far-off reality. It's a daily tragedy. For decades now, armed conflicts, in particular in the east of the DRC, have compelled millions of Congolese to flee their homes. Today, over 1.3 Congolese live as refugees outside the country, and we have over 6 million internally displaced persons. Behind these figures, there are broken lives, separated families, children deprived of a childhood, men and women compelled to flee their homes, to leave behind their livelihoods and, at times, any hope of a future. The humanitarian consequences as well as the social, economic and psychological ramifications, trauma that can ripple down through the generations. Large-scale displacement also results in sanitation problems. Lack of access to drinking water, to sanitation, often leads to the spread of pandemics, increasing the vulnerability of these groups of the population. The DRC knows this reality well, both as a country of origin and as a host country for refugees. In the east of the DRC, ongoing conflicts, in particular the offensive by the Rwandan Defence Forces and the M23, which they support, is something the Security Council has firmly condemned in its resolution 2773 of 2025. However, the situation continues undermining the security and resulting in displacement. This is owing to the actions of Rwanda and its aggression. This is something that should draw the attention of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Rwanda is promoting the displacement of populations and the settlement of Rwandans in Congolese villages, which are now empty as people have fled. This is a ticking time bomb which we must absolutely address before it goes off. This reality is a reminder that forced displacement is not just a consequence of conflict; it can also aggravate instability and vulnerability. Humanitarian assistance is absolutely vital, but it is no substitute for political action. The best way of protecting refugees is prevention, preventing and settling conflict in a sustainable fashion. Humanitarian protection saves lives. Peace gives us a chance to rebuild those lives. This is why we wish to call for stronger ties between conflict prevention, the protection of civilians, humanitarian action, development and sustainable solutions. This requires safe and unfettered humanitarian access, with particular attention being placed on women and children, as well as enhanced support for host communities. Moreover, we wish to welcome the emphasis placed on sustainable solutions. Voluntary return cannot be sustainable unless there is security, unless there's access to basic services, unless there are livelihoods and economic prospects. The Democratic Republic of the Congo will continue working hand-in-hand with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and its partners to ensure voluntary, safe, and dignified returns for these people when the conditions are ripe. Mr. President, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, we must reiterate our commitment to protection, to solidarity, and shared responsibilities. Our collective responsibility as members of the Security Council is clear. We must work to ensure that no child grows up in exile, so that no family has to move from place to place to ensure that everyone can live on their own land in peace. The ultimate answer to forced displacement is not just protecting those who were forced to flee, but to create the conditions which would allow these people not to have to flee. By way of conclusion, the Democratic Republic of the Congo would like to extend its gratitude to the High Commissioner for Refugees. We wish to encourage you to continue discharging your duties. to ensure that we can achieve voluntary, safe, and dignified return. On to the situation with Rwanda and the tripartite agreement with the DRC, Rwanda, and the UNHCR.

I wish to thank the representative of the DRC. I now give the floor to Colombia.

Thank you, President. The right to asylum is a human right, but the right to refuse certain refugees is completely a constitutional right, and it's actually a principle in international law. It's something that is difficult to grapple with today, but it's not the only difficult question we face.

Colombia is a country that knows very well all the circumstances when it comes to refugee law, asylum law, and international humanitarian law, especially when they intersect. We host the largest refugee population in the Americas. The Venezuelan refugees and some that have not any specific condition given the mobility across the borders, has passed already 2.5 million people. We do also observe with a special concern the situation in Haiti because the forced migration there has different roads, not just poverty. It's drug trafficking, there are environmental issues as well, and there are also economic refugees. We remain deeply concerned for the North Triangle in the Americas because drug trafficking, again, is another factor that is changing the dynamics of refugee populations and the movement. We want to say to this council that in the future, perhaps we will find in this report's section of technology, of technological refugees. This is a very likely thing that we will start serving in the years to come. And yet we face the same system with the same challenges. Particularly Colombia is concerned about the dynamic with the non-refoulement principle. that is established in Article 33 of the Refugee Convention of 1951. Some countries naturally signed the asylum protocol, and in others, it became domestic law. Yet, this principle that allows refugees to claim their status and in certain ways for which country to not return those that are protected under international law, has also an exception in Article 33, Section 2, which is for national security. This is the exception and it has become, nonetheless, the rule in many countries across the planet. One of the major challenges that we think we will face as a system is that perhaps sometimes we are very unfair with the system. The system was built as an equation of normal conditions in the world, geopolitical conditions. We must know as well that we have crossed the number of refugees in World War II. There are more than 40 million people in this condition today. The report, in addition to that, gave us a very, very concerning number of 117.2 million people forcibly displaced in the world by the end of 2025. That alone tells us that perhaps we might be crossing soon 120 million people. In those conditions, try to use the same legal norms and legal frame to solve the complexity of global migration crisis is a bit of a challenge in and of itself. Naturally, we have new documents, new agreements in 2016 and 2018 following up the situation in Syria. We salute the fact that some of these processes have shown a redress, which is particularly the case of Syria with millions returning, and in the case of Afghanistan, that tell us that people in the end want to return. Some processes, like the one that Canada led with Ukrainian refugees and America led with Ukrainian refugees, have shown different paths of integration. But as the High Commissioner has said, every circumstance and every condition is quite different. And as such, the adaptability of the legal system is at stake here. However, Senor.

Mr. President, in the case of Colombia, we define ourselves as a country of origin, transit, and also a host country. We see all situations and we have an immense degree of complexity. It could be a case study country to understand the dynamics and the need to adapt the system to the 21st century because In this specific case, we have refugees or people that are fleeing not just from domestic geopolitical situations such as the constitutional dictatorship in Venezuela, the regime in Venezuela, but there are also factors that impact mobility in neighboring countries. And as we know, They aren't always in the country just next door. In the case of the refugees or the Venezuelan refugees that have reached over 100 countries across the globe. And what we see is that in many other situations, the movement of these people also depends on the economic possibilities of these groups going across borders. But invariably, like other nations, we have also received an influx of domestic security concerns and this has become a serious situation when it comes to organized crime and there's a confluence there with the concerns of other countries in Europe and the United States, Canada, etc. in terms of the unrestricted vetting process. Colombia, therefore, would like to address three priorities. First, to address the root causes of displacement, preventing and solving conflicts so that people can stay in their communities safely and with dignity. difficult to think that the system can be sustained if the volume of refugees in the world increases and the financial capacity of agencies that are in charge of managing resources diminish. It seems like a recipe for disaster. The only way to move forward is to adapt agencies so that they are more effective and so us as countries also make all kinds of efforts to address the root causes of forced migration, and we have to do this immediately. In the case of Latin America, it is important to understand what are the triggers of migration. By this, I mean criminal organizations that do not just incentivize migration, but actually increase it and instrumentalize it and benefit from illegal migration and forced migration. And the case of Venezuelan refugees is a very important case study. because their mobility is very telling. They go through the Darien, through the jungle, but their movements are also very telling in neighboring countries. And the Haitian case is also very important given the levels of drug trafficking, drug trafficking that is used by these organizations to also engage in human trafficking. The situation across the Colombian and Venezuelan border when it comes to prostitution, human trafficking, and the recruitment of minors is something that is very important and we should focus on. We should ask ourselves whether the legal instruments that we currently possess are sufficiently broad to respond to the needs of the 21st century, or if the global migration agreements and pacts that we have signed also respond to the current needs in terms of coverage. Colombia, naturally, reaffirms its support to the work of UNHCR, the agency for refugees, and we are willing to continue working with you, the Council, and other member states, but we also would like to call for joint action, decisive joint action to address the causes of this. It seems difficult to contemplate maintaining current migration flows at a medium term, not even other time frames. Our country is already bearing the burden of millions of refugees, and naturally, this increases the complexity of our situation, despite certain advantages. because we share a language and for many people, in the case of many people, we share a religion and there are other cultural similarities that would facilitate the process of adaptation and integration. However, studies show that despite these elements in common, there is serious economic and social pressures in many host countries when the numbers are simply overwhelming despite the cultural elements in common. Now we can think about other cases, Africa or the Middle East, where there isn't really a shared identity. I insist Colombia is a case study that can teach us a lot, positive and negative things, and we would request for the Council to bear these things in mind. Finally, a country that is host to the largest population of refugees in the Americas and also as a country that has also registered forced displacement toward other countries we are in a middle point and also a decisive point when it comes to the situation of refugees and what is this being able to compensate between the different challenges. On the one hand, financing agencies that are in charge of managing this crisis, and on the other hand, the current architecture that we have to address a scourge that is simply not stopping, that continues increasing. And lastly, the need to review our legal framework to take into account the causes of forced migration. Because the basic criteria for determining refugee or asylum status have evolved. So beyond all of this, there are factors that do not necessarily activate forced migration, but they increase it exponentially. And those factors are organized crime, And those factors are changing the equation. They are breaking the system, and they need to be attacked in a cross-cutting fashion. I thank you, President.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Colombia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Denmark.

Thank you, President. And let me also thank High Commissioner Saleh for his first briefing to this Council. Denmark commends your leadership and your dedication to those forced to flee around the world. Mr. President, When UNHCR last briefed this Council, former High Commissioner Grandi spoke to us about a season of war, about an era in which international law was cast aside and violence was the defining currency. Regrettably, that season continues today. As we've heard from the High Commissioner, over 117 million people forcibly displaced, the vast majority driven by conflict. Their hardship, and that of millions more, further worsened by economic and climate shocks across the globe. Sudan remains the world's largest displacement crisis, with more than 14 million people forced to flee. Persistent violence, shifting front lines, and continued external backing of the parties have led to many being uprooted time and time again. In Ukraine, Russia's illegal aggression has forced nearly 10 million people to flee from their homes. They now face a fifth winter under relentless attacks, as Russian strikes on energy infrastructure threaten, once again, to leave millions without electricity, heating, and water. And in Gaza, the entire population of 2.1 million people are displaced and in need of shelter. Mr. President, Globally, the past year has seen significant developments and new drivers of displacement. The conflict in the Gulf has displaced millions inside Iran and across the region. The subsequent Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered an energy crisis and severed the main artery for Gulf fertilizer exports, with dangerous knock-on effects. As we heard, missed planting seasons mean failed harvests. Failed harvest means hunger, and hunger moves people within and across borders, often into the hands of those who profit from grievance. The vicious cycle in which conflict transmits hunger globally and hunger transmits displacement back must be broken. Last year, however, and as we heard this morning, also saw some of the largest returns in UNHCR's history. Nearly 15 million people went home, including in Syria and in the DRC. Denmark reiterates that return of refugees must be safe, voluntary, and dignified. Mr. President, against this backdrop, allow me to make three key recommendations. First, too often displacement starts as a lifeline, but lasts a lifetime. Seven in 10 of those displaced are now in protracted displacement. emergency aid is not a long-term solution. High Commissioner, we therefore welcome your 50 by 35 vision to enable refugees in long-term displacement to move beyond aid dependency to greater self-reliance. We salute those host countries that have taken important steps to make this vision a reality to the benefit of both host communities and refugees. Denmark is committed to supporting this process, and we urge all parts of the UN development system, as well as other donors, to step up and assist. Second, UNHCR is being asked to do more with less. Denmark is proud to be a leading donor to this essential agency, and among the largest providers of unearmarked funding, allowing UNHCR to act where the need is greatest. We strongly encourage others to do the same, while also supporting host countries in responding to displacement. Third and finally, as we heard so clearly from the High Commissioner, if we want fewer refugees and fewer displaced people, we must end and prevent the conflicts driving them in the first place. That is fundamentally the task of this Council. Mr. President, in closing, As we commemorated two days ago, just down the hall, this year marks the 75 years of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Its promise, written by those who knew what happens when every door seems to close, remains just as important today. Our responsibility to uphold that promise also remains clear. Denmark reaffirms its full support to UNHCR and for the Global Compact on Refugees. You can count on us to continue to play our part. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Denmark for her statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

Mr. President, Somalia welcomes and thanks High Commissioner Saleh for his sobering assessment of the realities facing refugees worldwide. We commend his leadership and reaffirm our full support for the agency's mandate and its vital work. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Refugee Convention. We pay tribute to UNHCR personnel and humanitarian workers serving courageously on the front lines of crises around the world. Mr. President, by the end of 2025, nearly one in every 70 people globally was forcibly displaced. Although the total declined modestly, displacement remains at historic levels. Global tensions, polarization, and economic pressures are weakening international cooperation, straining host countries, and leaving humanitarian operations critically underfunded. Severe funding cuts and restrictions have forced organizations like the UNCHR and UNRWA and resulted in serious consequences for displaced people and host communities around the world. In this context, I wish to make the following four points. First, we must address the root causes of displacement. Humanitarian assistance save lives, but cannot replace political solutions. Conflict, foreign occupation, prosecution, exploitation, poverty, and inequality, in part rooted in colonial legacies, continue to uproot millions of people. Addressing these causes require a fairer international system, in particular reform of the international financial institutions and greater investment in sustainable development. The prolonged Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory remains a central cause of Palestinian displacement and the protracted and the most protracted refugee crisis in the world. Somalia rejects any attempt to forcibly transfer Palestinians from their land and reaffirm the right of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons to return to their land in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. We also call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, and an end to the long-standing occupation. Second, international humanitarian law must be applied consistently, without exception or double standard. The protection of civilians, refugees, and humanitarian workers is a binding legal obligation, not as a matter of political discretion. We condemn attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers, and United Nations personnel, and demand full accountability. Impunity encourages further abuses and deepened displacement. Selective application undermines the Council's credibility and leaves civilians to pay the highest price. Third, refugees must be protected from xenophobia, Islamophobia, misinformation, and the dangerous journeys. States should counter inflammatory rhetoric, promote social cohesion, and recognize the contribution of hosts and their contribution to host communities. We remain deeply concerned by the continued loss of migrants' life in the Mediterranean Sea. We encourage all States concerned to uphold their obligation under international maritime and refugee law and enable humanitarian organizations to carry out their life-saving work. We invite the High Commissioner to continue giving this serious situation close attention and to support constructive engagement with all concerned states toward the full implementation of their international obligations. Fourth, and my last point, durable solutions require sustained international support, safe, Voluntary and dignified return, local integration, and third country resettlement must be pursued in consultation with displaced communities and host countries. In 2025, 14.7 million people returned to their countries or areas of origin, showing that progress is possible. However, returns must be supported by security, essential services, and livelihoods, with particular attention to women and children. We also call for an adequate, predictable and flexible funding for relevant UN agencies, including UNRWA, and stronger links among humanitarian assistance, development, as well as peacebuilding. In closing, Mr. President, every refugee and displaced person, regardless of nationality, background or circumstances, is entitled to dignity, protection, basic rights, essential services, and a durable solution. Somalia stands ready to help translate these commitments into meaningful actions on the ground. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Somalia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Greece.

Mr. President, We highly appreciate the High Commissioner's continuous engagement on issues relating to migration management and the protection of human rights. Greece remains firmly committed to ensuring that all migration policies are implemented in full compliance with its obligations under international law and European law. The geopolitical position of Greece, as well as the current international developments, bring the country very often before the human drama of thousands of people fleeing their homes. The irregular entries from the central Mediterranean route put a significant pressure on our country. At the same time, we all witness an increasingly complex global landscape where multifaceted factors exacerbate human rights violations and test the resilience of multilateralism with international mechanisms and organs facing a persistent funding and liquidity crisis that threatens their capacity to fulfill the vital mandates. Now, in the meantime, We cannot stand idly by in the face of an ever-increasing challenges of instrumentalization of migration, posing a challenge at our external borders and undermining our Union's internal security. In this context, we do welcome the High Commissioner's new strategic vision advocating for the need to protect the asylum system and for the need to keep genuine refugees in countries close to the home regions. At the same time, I wish to express my country's support for the route-based approach being developed by the UNHCR jointly with the IOM, as well as for the need to make a clear distinction between refugees and migrants at an early stage so as to prevent abuse of the asylum system. Greece underscores the associated need for cooperation between the organization and the relevant states. Regarding UNHCR's overall financial situation, I wish to commend the High Commissioner's efforts towards rationalization of the expenses of this organization, which has undergone significant downsizing as its budget was drastically reduced within a few years, dropping from 6 billion to approximately 3.2 billion. Despite this dramatic reduction in available resources, we're very pleased to note that the UNHCR continues its operational work seamlessly in accordance with its statutory mandate, while its core pillars of action include providing protection, seeking durable solutions, responding immediately to emergencies, and fostering refugee self-reliance. In conclusion, Greece, as one of the frontline European and EU member states, still receiving large numbers of mixed arrivals, is strongly committed to, first, ensuring respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law; second, stepping up humanitarian action in order to support refugees and displaced persons; and the countries hosting them. And third, finding meaningful solutions to reverse displacement trends. In this regard, we value international cooperation while we underline the fundamental importance of national sovereignty, the rule of law and due process. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished.

Representative of Greece for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Liberia.

Thank you, Mr. President. We join in thanking the High Commissioner for his sobering briefing. On this vital subject, Liberia speaks as a nation of former refugees and with the unmistakable clarity of lived experience. Three decades ago, our families were scattered across West Africa. Our children grew up in exile. Today, we sit in this chamber as living proof of a fundamental truth. Displacement does not have to be a permanent address, and international solidarity works. Yet, across the globe today, as the High Commissioner has alerted, that solidarity is fracturing. Hence, a significant challenge to the announced 50 by 35. Estimates point to more than 120 million people being forcibly displaced worldwide. This is an unprecedented human tragedy driven by brutal conflict, impunity, and the willful disregard of international humanitarian law. Displacement is no longer merely a humanitarian emergency. It is a direct threat to international peace and security. Mr. President, humanitarian aid keeps people alive today, but it cannot buy them a future tomorrow. Tents and ration cards are not durable solutions. Ending conflict is. From our own painful national recovery Liberia learned a vital lesson. Return without reintegration is simply displacement by another name. A refugee cannot return to a home that is still a battlefield or rebuild a life where there are no schools, no hospitals, and no rule of law. We must connect the work of this council directly with the peace building commission and international financial institutions. If we do not invest in community security, accountable governance, and livelihoods, we guarantee the return of conflict. Furthermore, we must confront an undeniable injustice. More than three-quarters of the world's displaced are hosted by developing and low-income nations. Countries across Africa continue to open their borders and share their meager resources. All countries doing so are not merely sheltering refugees. They are holding the line for regional and global stability. True partnership requires equitable responsibility sharing. We reaffirm the absolute sanctity of the 1951 Convention. Borders must remain open to those fleeing terror and humanitarian corridors must remain unhindered. Mr. President, when our neighbors welcomed Liberians during our darkest hour, they saved our future. The question before this Council is whether we possess the political courage to do the same for the millions waiting in limbo today. Let history record that this Council did not merely manage human misery, but we worked to solve it. I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of Liberia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Thank you, Mr. President. We would like at the outset to thank the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for his valuable briefing. We have listened to the information and data the briefing contained regarding the continuing expansion of forced displacement around the world, along with its resulting security, economic, and humanitarian consequences. Despite the decrease in the overall number of refugees last year, yet we are deeply concerned over the continued high levels of refugees and forcibly displaced persons, particularly in light of ongoing armed conflicts and protracted political and humanitarian crises, which exacerbate the suffering of civilians and threaten their security and safety. In this regard, we would like to emphasize the following points. First, addressing the crisis of forced displacement should not be limited to humanitarian response alone. It must be accompanied by serious political and diplomatic efforts to tackle the root causes of conflicts and prevent their outbreak or recurrence while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, adhering to the principles of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Second, the continued commitment of the international commitment to addressing the causes of displacement, providing humanitarian assistance and ensuring the protection of refugees, including women, children, the elderly and persons with disability. This continued commitment is essential. In this regard, the Kingdom of Bahrain underscores the importance of strengthening international cooperation and reconstruction efforts, early recovery, demining activities, the clearance of explosive remnants of war, rebuilding of infrastructure and the provision of basic services, thereby helping to create the conditions conducive to the voluntary and safe return of civilians. Third, the Kingdom of Bahrain expresses its appreciation to the countries and international and regional organizations that continue their efforts to provide humanitarian and relief assistance to peoples around the world, particularly in the Middle East. We commend the extensive efforts to alleviate the suffering of affected populations and to support stability and peace. Despite these efforts, and we have worked with the High Commission for Refugees to implement several projects, despite these efforts, the Kingdom of Bahrain continues to share the concern of the UN Secretary-General regarding the worsening displacement and insecurity resulting from successive crises in the Middle East, including in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. These crises have generated severe humanitarian challenges and further exacerbated instability in the region, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen international solidarity, ensure fair burden sharing, alongside intensified diplomatic efforts to support sustainable political solutions that address the root causes of conflicts. In conclusion, Mr. President, the Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and its support for international efforts aimed at protecting refugees, alleviating their suffering, and working with the international community and the UN High Commission for Refugees toward sustainable political solutions that reduce conflicts and create the conditions necessary for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain. I now give the floor to China.

President, I would like to thank High Commissioner Salih for his briefing. UNHCR has long been working in conflict and war-torn regions, providing vital protection and assistance to large numbers of refugees, to which China pays its tribute. At present, regional conflicts are becoming more protracted and recurring, and humanitarian crises can break out frequently in multiple locations. The total number of refugees worldwide now exceeds 40 million. The international community should uphold the humanitarian spirit, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and jointly address the refugee issue. I will make four points. First, we must prioritize promoting political solutions to conflicts. Facts have repeatedly shown that so long as fighting continues, the refugee crisis will remain fundamentally unresolved. The ongoing conflict in Sudan and the recurring escalations in the Middle East have attracted widespread attention to the refugee issue. The Security Council must fulfill its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, uphold the principle of a peaceful settlement of dispute, and urge the parties to the conflict to renounce violence and achieve a lasting ceasefire at the earliest opportunity. The international community should persist in urging reconciliation and promoting dialogue, strive to de-escalate tensions, and jointly create the most basic conditions for refugees to return to their homes voluntarily, safely, and with dignity. Second, we must continue to strengthen humanitarian protection for refugees. The number of refugees and IDPs worldwide remains stubbornly high, leading to widespread humanitarian crises. with women and children bearing the heavy brunt. All parties to the conflict should comply with the international humanitarian law, protect the safety of civilians and the civilian infrastructure, and ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. Currently, more than 2 million people in Gaza remain displaced. The international community must ensure that the people of Gaza have access to basic supplies such as food and medicine, open up humanitarian routes and ensure that there are no man-made restrictions and obstacles, oppose the forced displacement of the Gazan population, reject attempts to annex land in Gaza or the West Bank so as to prevent new and larger-scale displacement. Third, effectively ensure burden sharing of international responsibilities. Low and middle income countries host 70% of the world's refugees, compounding the hardships of these countries that don't have much in the first place and imposing even heavier economic, social, and ecological burdens on them. The refugee issue is a global issue and it should not be borne solely by a few countries, particularly developing countries. Developed countries should provide greater support to major refugee-hosting countries and multilateral humanitarian agencies. It is not reasonable to, on the one hand, demand that developing countries shoulder more responsibility, while on the other hand, continue to cut aid. All parties must implement the Global Compact on Refugees and establish a fair and reasonable mechanism for burden-sharing of international responsibilities. Fourth. We must advance lasting solutions to the refugee issue. Development is the key foundation and a fundamental solution to the refugee problem. In many countries, particularly in African countries, poverty, food insecurity, and the impact of natural disasters are often intertwined with conflict and instability, exacerbating the refugee crisis. At the same time, whether refugees can voluntarily return to their homes and reintegrate into society also depend on whether there is a stable and conducive environment for development in their countries of origin. The international community, particularly developed countries, should respect the development path of each country, increase development assistance to relevant countries to help them restore their economies, improve employment, education, and infrastructure, and enhance their capacity to respond to risks, thereby laying a solid foundation for lasting solutions for refugee and displacement issues. President, China is a state party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol. We attach great importance to international cooperation on refugee issues and actively carry out international refugee assistance projects with UNHCR, providing assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels to large numbers of refugees and displaced persons in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Guided by President Xi Jinping's Global Governance Initiative, China is ready to continue to work with the international community to make new contributions to advancing the resolution of global refugee issues and promoting world peace and development. I thank you.

I thank the representative of China for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the onset, I would like to thank High Commissioner Barham Salih for his briefing to the Security Council and for sharing his assessment of the stark reality. Since this is the first time the High Commissioner is briefing the Security Council, we would like to wish you, High Commissioner, all the success in your efforts and hope that this tradition of such meetings will continue. Also, we would like to welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan to the Chamber. Mr. President, as it was mentioned by the High Commissioner, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide at the end of 2025 was estimated at almost 118 million. Many of them continue to be uprooted from their homes and families for an unknown period of time. Many of them are young children who will grow up not knowing where their real home is. Many of them are displaced women and girls who face specific challenges and protection risks, including an increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Gender-based violence can be a reason for flight, can occur during flight, and can pose a real danger in the country of asylum. Mr. President, Current raging wars and conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Middle East, Myanmar, and elsewhere, as well as the resulting displacement, have regional and global effects. Russia continues to escalate its deadly aerial attacks in Ukraine, killing and endangering the civilian population and destroying civilian infrastructure. Indiscriminate attacks in densely populated areas are destroying residential buildings and causing the number of civilian casualties to skyrocket. As a result, there are almost 700,000 newly displaced Ukrainians within the country in 2025. Many have been displaced several times. In the first eight months of 2026, more civilians were killed and injured in Ukraine than during the entire year of 2025. Civilian casualties, large-scale displacement, and deepening humanitarian needs remain the everyday reality in Ukraine. Due to the protracted conflict, the people of Sudan continue to face one of the largest displacement crises in the world. nearly one third of the population was left with no choice other than to leave their home and seek survival elsewhere. Millions are still searching for safety, food, and basic services. Across the Middle East, renewed hostilities and ongoing crisis continue to drive displacement and deepen the vulnerabilities of refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities. Yet, recent developments also show that when circumstances permit, displaced persons seek to return, reinforcing the importance of sustained efforts to create the conditions for voluntary, safe, and dignified returns. In this regard, we would like to highlight the positive example of Syria, where more than 1.8 million Syrians have returned to their country and will participate in shaping its future. Rohingya. Refugee camps in Bangladesh now host more than one million people, making them the largest refugee settlement in the world. This is not a record the international community can be proud of. Mr. President, it is hard to ignore the fact that the impact of climate change continues to grow. Most refugees and internally displaced people are from highly climate-vulnerable countries. Climate shock adds to the challenges and makes the conditions for sustained peace and safe return more difficult to achieve. Therefore, the Security Council must take climate and environmental challenges into account and focus on climate, peace, and security in conflict prevention and peacebuilding frameworks. UN agencies and their humanitarian workers must always have safe and unhindered access to those in need. As obvious as it may sound, unfortunately, we still have to remind today that ensuring humanitarian access is a legal obligation of every state under international law. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that humanitarian aid alone will not create the conditions for a safe return home. The Security Council has the responsibility to address the structural causes of displacement, not just the humanitarian consequences. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you, President, and thank you, High Commissioner, for your briefing. The United States remains committed to constructively contributing to efforts to achieve peace and end displacement by fostering the conditions for refugees to return home. For example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The United States brokered the Washington Accords, which allowed displaced refugees to return home. The parties must demonstrate a continued and earnest commitment to this political process. For Sudan, the United States continues to advocate for a humanitarian truce and calls on parties to protect civilians and negotiate in good faith. Humanitarian assistance must be able to reach those in need. We have also renewed our efforts towards a swift and durable end to the Russia-Ukraine war through ceasefire and negotiated settlement. We continue to support the return of all civilians, especially children, who have been displaced or forcibly transferred as a result of this conflict. We must not forget about the too-often overlooked displacement crises, including the reality facing the Sirawee refugees. There is a window of opportunity to end this protracted political dispute and give these refugees a chance at a dignified and free future. We call on all member states and stakeholders to join us in making this opportunity a reality. In all these cases, the United States firmly believes that deterring and ending displacement, rather than just managing it year after year, must be the goal. In FY 2025, the United States contributed more than $1.4 billion in humanitarian assistance to UNHCR, UNICEF, and IOM. These funds help to address refugee crises, internal displacement, and disasters around the world, including Sudan, DRC, and Ukraine. The United States has also additionally provided billions of dollars through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pooled funds, most of which supports the UNHCR activities. The international system, though, cannot continue to treat forced displacement as a burden for only host and donor states. Origin country actors must finally face accountability. Responsibility for these problems cannot continue to be quietly transferred to the rest of the world. Governments and countries of origin have a part to play, and we must hold them accountable and to a higher standard. They must create conditions for returns and promptly accept their returned nationals. We also believe that the UNHCR has a key role to play in fostering refugee returns. The United States supports the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 vision, where it reflects a genuine pivot towards solutions and self-reliance. We urge UNHCR to remain at the forefront of these worldwide efforts to support refugees so that they may finally return home. The global refugee and asylum system, however, cannot be sustained without significant reforms. UNHCR's most urgent priority should be to advance changes that halt the abuse of asylum mechanisms by economic migrants, perhaps the most powerful driver of mass migration. We look forward to the long overdue reforms to uphold national sovereignty and eliminate incentives for fraudulent abuses of the international protection system. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States. For that statement, I will now deliver a statement in my capacity as the representative of France. I thank Mr. Baham Sali, the High Commissioner for Refugees, for his first briefing to the Security Council ever since he took up his post. As our presidency continues, I am delighted to be upholding a longstanding tradition You've given us an edifying overview of the situation at the agency and its priorities. I would like to make the following remarks. The Security Council is duty-bound to address threats and breaches of international peace and security. That means crises and conflicts which are at the origin of this forced displacement. Seven out of 10 refugees falling within the agency's mandate come from just six states, most of which are on the Security Council's agenda. First and foremost, Sudan, where violence being waged despite the rules of law, has resulted in 2.8 million refugees on top of 9 million IDPs. We shouldn't let the agency address the humanitarian consequences on its own. France supports the work of the quintet. We call for the broadening and strengthening of the sanctions regime and the arms embargo. In Ukraine, a legal, brutal invasion, as well as the war being waged by Russia, has resulted in 10 million Ukrainians fleeing the country since 2022. In 2025, 117 million people have been compelled to flee, versus 65 million in 2015. In 10 years, the figure has almost doubled, which reflects a world confronted with conflicts, which are multiplying, becoming more protracted, and this is resulting in effects on food security, sanitation, and violations of international law. France welcomes the courage and the devotion of agency staff. It is incumbent upon the Council, much like other humanitarian actors, to ensure that they are given adequate protection as well as rapid, safe, and unfettered access. The Council has recalled in Resolution 2823 this responsibility to offer protection. Furthermore, it is our common duty to support host countries. Seventy percent of them are low and middle income countries. We need to help them better integrate refugees. It's a moral imperative, but also a matter of peace and security. Refugee returns have intensified over the last few years. We must provide assistance for these. Returns must be undertaken in conditions of dignity, safe and durable conditions. 1.8 million Syrians have gone back to their country since the Bashar al-Assad regime fell. They received the support of the Agency, and France is contributing to this effort. Aside from neighboring countries, which bear the brunt of the burden, Hosting and protecting refugees is a legal obligation, a universal one. France reiterates its commitment to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and we reiterate our trust in the agency as a guarantor for the convention's implementation. We call on all states who have not yet done so to ratify it. We support the reforms undertaken by the High Commissioner with a view to offering sustainable solutions to refugees and displaced persons. France remains committed to refugee inclusion. It's a longstanding commitment, and it's in keeping with our "avec elles, with them" multi-stakeholder pledge, launched in December 2023 at the Global Refugee Forum in the context of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. This initiative has paved the way for hundreds of projects helping women and girls refugees to become better integrated. We welcome the agency's aiming higher Education Initiative, which will be officially launched at the end of the year, the objective being to improve refugee access to higher education, the best way to give them professional opportunities and genuine economic empowerment. High Commissioner, we thank you for creating voluntary, safe and dignified conditions for refugee return. This is one of the key principles of international humanitarian law. Peace is our responsibility. I resume my function as President of the Security Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting stands adjourned.