Tercera Comisión, 40ª sesión plenaria, Asamblea General, 81° período de sesiones
Asamblea General
Date: 4 November 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/es/ga/c3/81/40?lang=en
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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Third Committee · Chair [14:34]:

Colleagues, we'll start in a couple of seconds. Colleagues, let me call to order our meeting. The 40th meeting of the Third Committee at the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. I now invite the committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 59, entitled “Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons, and humanitarian questions.” As all of you are well aware, the relevant information concerning agenda item 59 is listed on iGov. I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under this item is this afternoon at 6:00 PM. It's now a very great pleasure for me to welcome the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Baher Saleh. High Commissioner, you are very, very welcome here, and thank you for joining us. In the usual way, those delegations wishing to intervene following the High Commissioner's presentation should press their button now, and we will create a list, and the number of delegations wishing to speak will determine the amount of time each speaker has, and I will announce that when we begin our interventions from the floor. But first, let me pass to the High Commissioner, and I invite you to give your presentation. Thank you.


UNHCR · High Commissioner for Refugees [17:06]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's an honor to address the Third Committee for the first time as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and present my annual report on the work of the Office. I assumed this responsibility at a difficult moment for the international system, to say the least. Conflicts, are becoming more protracted, displacement lasts longer. Humanitarian resources are shrinking, and millions of people who fled what they hoped to be a temporary crisis find themselves displaced for years, sometimes for generations. Today, more than 117 million people have been forced to flee their homes by conflict, violence, persecution, and other threats. Behind that figure is a simple political reality: when peace fails, people move. We see this in Sudan, where the conflict has displaced millions. We see it in Ukraine, where the war continues to destroy homes, infrastructure, and lives. And we see it today in Yemen, where renewed conflict has forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes. Humanitarian organizations can respond to displacement, but humanitarian action cannot indefinitely compensate for unresolved wars and conflicts. We can protect people. We can provide assistance. We can help families survive and rebuild. and we looked for opportunities to move towards durable solutions in line with informed and voluntary choices of refugees. But we cannot end wars. This requires political leadership, diplomacy, and sustained engagement by states, regional organizations, and this very United Nations. This is why Refugee protection and the search for peace must be much more closely connected. Asylum protects people when peace has failed, but we cannot wait for peace before improving their lives. Millions of refugees have lived in exile for years. Too many cannot work legally, move freely, or access national education, health, and economic systems. that is neither sustainable nor dignified. Our objective must be moved wherever possible from dependency to self-reliance, from parallel humanitarian systems to strengthened national systems, and from prolonged displacement towards solutions. This is the ambition behind our agenda of 50 by 35. By 2035, our vision is to reduce by half the number of refugees in long-term displacement who remain dependent on humanitarian assistance through great self-reliance and lasting solutions. This is not, Excellencies, about reducing assistance. It is about reducing the need for it. And refugees who can work can support a family and contribute to the economies of their host communities. A child in school is building a future. A family able to access health care, documentation, and financial services through national systems is less dependent on humanitarian assistance. But inclusion cannot be financed by goodwill alone. Schools need teachers, health systems need capacity, municipalities need infrastructure, economic inclusion requires investments and jobs. Host countries need development investment, international financial institutions and development actors, the private sector, and humanitarian organizations must work together, and refugees themselves. must have a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape their lives. Mr. Chair, self-reliance matters, but it is not by itself a durable solution. For many refugees, their deepest hope remains to go home. Where conditions permit, we should help make that possible. We see opportunities in very different circumstances: in Syria, in Afghanistan, and in Venezuela. In Syria, people are returning after years of devastating conflict. Some 1.8 million refugees from neighboring countries and more than 2 million internally displaced people have returned to their areas of origin since December 2024. But crossing the threshold home is only the beginning. Return will endure and will be sustainable if people have security, documentation, housing, livelihoods, and functioning services. In Afghanistan, nearly 7 million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries since 2023, often under difficult circumstances and not always voluntarily. Communities already facing poverty and limited services are under enormous pressure. Sustainable integration requires greater investment, and Afghanistan’s recovery for sure cannot succeed while women and girls are denied their rights and full participation in society. In Venezuela too, There are important opportunities to support people who voluntarily choose to return and contribute to their country's future. These situations, Excellencies, are very different, but they point to an important lesson. When an opening for solutions emerge, that is not the moment for the international community to leave. It is the moment to stay engaged. UNHCR needs to be there, not to promote returns before conditions permit, not to make political judgments on behalf of refugees, but to protect their choices and help ensure those who return can rebuild their lives. Because crossing a border home is an event. A solution is what comes after. There are also situations where conditions for returns are simply not there. For Rohingya, conditions in Myanmar are not conducive to voluntary, safe, and dignified, and sustainable returns. A sustainable solution requires rights, citizenships, freedom of movement, and security. In the meantime, Bangladesh cannot be left to shoulder this responsibility alone. And for more than half a century, generations of Sahrawi refugees have lived in camps near Tindouf. Their humanitarian needs remain real, as does their hope for a future beyond protracted displacement. UNSCR’s work must always remain firmly anchored in its humanitarian mandate, despite severe resource constraints, we continue to uphold our protection responsibilities and in line with our full mandate. We will equally remain ready to respond as developments create genuine opportunities for solutions based on the free and informed choices of refugees wherever and whenever that might occur. Refugees must not become instrument of political disputes. Their rights of refugees, their choices, their dignity must remain at the center. This is the continuum of our responsibility. When people are forced to flee, we must be there to provide protection. While they are displaced, we must help them live with dignity and recover control over their lives. And when genuine opportunities for solutions emerge, we must help make those solutions sustainable. Mr. Chair, we must also defend the institution of asylum. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. States have the right and responsibility to manage their borders and migration systems, but they must do so consistently with international refugee and human rights law, including the principle of non-refoulement. Asylum systems must be credible, fair, and efficient. We should safeguard them against abuse, while ensuring that people who need protection can obtain it. These objectives, Excellencies, are not contradictory. They reinforce one another. We do not need two. retreat from the Refugee Convention. We need to implement it better. We must also, Excellencies, confront another reality: that humanitarian systems itself must change and adapt. Resources are simply not keeping pace with needs. UNHCR has reduced costs, tightened financial controls, reduced its footprint, and undertaken a major workforce adjustment. We are simplifying structures, reducing duplications, and placing greater authority and responsibility closer to our operations. We must work increasingly through national systems where they can deliver protection effectively and make better use of partnerships, technology, common services across the United Nations system. But efficiency has limits. There comes a point when efficiency cannot compensate for insufficient resources. And when we cross that point, the consequences are borne not by institutions, by the people who depend on protection. That makes Responsibility sharing, truly indispensable. Most refugees are hosted by countries with considerably lower resources. Their leadership must be matched by international support. International solidarity must be practical. It means humanitarian financing. It means development investment. It means resettlement and complementary pathways. It means investing in communities that host refugees. And above all, it means sustained political engagement with the conflicts that produce displacement in the first place. Refugees rarely ask for extraordinary things. They want safety. They want their children educated. They want to work and support their families. And they want the chance to determine their own future. Our responsibility is to protect that possibility. We must be there when people are forced to flee. We must defend the asylum system. We must stand with the countries and communities that receive refugees, and we must help people move from dependency towards inclusion, agency, and self-reliance. And when opportunities emerge for people to go home, we must be there too, helping to make return voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable. Ultimately, Excellencies, our success cannot be measured by how many people UNHCR assists. It must be also measured by how many people are able to rebuild their lives and no longer need our assistance. That requires protection, it requires inclusion and self-reliance, and it requires solutions. And above all, it requires peace. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [30:43]:

Hi, Commissioner. Thank you very much indeed. Greatly appreciated. We have a large list of speakers. Some 45 delegations are seeking the floor. That means the time allocated for each intervention is 1.5 minutes. Let me read out the first tranche of speakers: Permanent Representative of Switzerland, the Permanent Representative of Georgia, Permanent Representative of Poland, Permanent Representative of Morocco, Permanent Representative of Cuba, followed by Romania, Portugal, Belarus, China, and the Republic of Korea. Permanent Representative of Switzerland, you have the floor.


Switzerland · Permanent Representative [31:21]:

Thank you very much.

Mr. Chair, Switzerland wishes to thank the High Commissioner for the presentation of the report. The HCR is undergoing a particularly trying period, which has been punctuated by significant operational and financial constraints. Amid the difficult choices that need to be made, protection must remain the aim, while sustainable solutions and locally-led action are also critical. We support the HCR in its efforts with a contribution of $79 million in 2023. I wish to put forward two questions. First of all, we support the 50 by 35 vision of the High Commissioner. In order to achieve this, we encourage the HCR to step up cooperation with the World Bank and other multilateral development banks. How can these partnerships contribute to the implementation of this vision? Second, we encourage the HCR to play a proactive role in the humanitarian research. as well as the UNAD reforms. In your view, what are the main challenges and the main strides made by HCR in light of these reforms, specifically in terms of the integrated supply chains, shared services, and data? The upcoming dialogue of the High Commission on Protection and Solutions to be held in December in Geneva should be an opportunity to set the stage for tangible contributions and commitments in view of the 2027 World Forum on Refugees, and as a host state of HCR, we remain fully committed and engaged. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [32:52]:

Representative of Switzerland, I pass the floor to the Permanent Representative of Georgia.


Georgia · Permanent Representative [32:57]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

High Commissioner Salih, thank you for your remarks and the presentation of your report. Georgia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union. We are deeply concerned that around 118 million people worldwide remain forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution, violence, and human rights violations. Georgia continues to support global and regional responsibility sharing, including through active engagement with the UNHCR and its global initiatives. Georgia knows the cost of Displacement across generations, hundreds of thousands of Georgian citizens who were expelled from Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia through successive waves of ethnic cleansing remain deprived of their right to voluntary, safe, and dignified return to their homes. The Government of Georgia continues to protect the rights of IDPs by providing decent living conditions, housing, and social services. They are fully included in the state programs covering health care, employment, income generation, and livelihood opportunities. In recent years, more than 4,800 IDPs have participated in livelihood activities, at least 35% of whom were women. Meanwhile, Russia's continued occupation and militarization of Georgia's occupied regions, in the absence of international monitoring mechanisms on the ground, threaten further forced displacement. We call on the Russian Federation to implement the EU-meditated ceasefire agreement. allow international mechanisms access, end human rights violations and ensure the return of IDPs and refugees.


Third Committee · Chair [34:29]:

Thank you, Giorgio. I pass the floor to the Permanent Representative of Poland. You have the floor.


Poland · Permanent Representative [34:36]:

Mr. Chair, we thank the High Commissioner for his comprehensive report. Mr. High Commissioner, we are aware that the UNHCR is operating vis-à-vis a record number of persons of concern, an increasing gap between the needs and funds, and lack of respect for IHL, and difficult structural transformation. Against this backdrop, we acknowledge the work of the UNHCR staff and its partners providing critical assistance. We call on all actors to ensure impeded access of humanitarian aid, safety of humanitarian personnel, and unconditional compliance with IHL. At the same time, we strongly encourage further transparency. and updates on how the new strategic initiatives and the vision you presented, coupled with ongoing humanitarian reset, UNHCR, and the completed independent management review, will translate into staffing, budgeting, and UNHCR field presence around the world. We would like to be particularly interested in your perspective on how humanitarian response to the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe, resulting from Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, shall be addressed in a longer perspective. Let me conclude, Mr. Commissioner, by reaffirming Poland's support for UNHCR, and I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [35:44]:

Thank you, Poland. I pass the floor to the Permanent Representative of Morocco. You have the floor.


Morocco · Permanent Representative [35:52]:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. High Commissioner, thank you very much for your presentation. I wish to reaffirm Morocco's support for your 50-35 vision. High Commissioner, I wish to take this opportunity to warmly thank you for having highlighted the magnitude and the plight of the refugees in Tindouf camp. Women, children, and young people have continued to live there for more than 50 years without ever having been registered. The host state has not allowed the HCR to fully exercise its mandate. United Nations data reveal the fact that two children at least under five out of three suffer anemia, one out of three have growth delays, and only one out of ten receive the necessary nutrition, entire generation has been born in a camp, has grown up, brought up children and may die there. These are men, these are women. The status quo is a choice, a choice that is being made. And we highlight the gravity and the fact that protection cannot be achieved unless people are heard, registered. Registration is not a political prerequisite, but the first step towards, the first step under the 1951 Convention, and no response, host responsibility can be handed over to a non-state armed group. High Commissioner, your report highlights that sustainable solutions remain at the heart of the mandate. The remote for to provide for safety and security are key and paramount priorities. The conditions in tune with camps. The microphone has been cut off.


Third Committee · Chair [37:23]:

I'm very sorry. Thank you. I thank the permanent representative of Morocco. I pass to the permanent representative of Cuba.


Cuba · Permanent Representative [37:31]:

Mr. Chair, We congratulate Mr. Baham Saleh for his appointment, and we wish him every success in fulfilling his mandate. Cuba recognizes the important work done by UNHCR on international protection for refugees, asylum seekers, displaced persons, and stateless persons. We are concerned by the financial situation of UNHCR. Its reform cannot be an end in and of itself. Rather, it needs to guarantee that it can effectively fulfill its mandate in the current circumstances. We need a UNHCR that is more agile and stronger, that is focused on its work on the ground. We support the 50 by 35 initiative with the understanding that its purpose is not to shift responsibility to host states, nor to reduce humanitarian assistance, but rather to reduce the need for it. Real success will be creating conditions to make sure that people no longer need UNHCR. We reiterate the importance of UNHCR's response, preserving the humanitarian, impartial, and non-politicized nature of refugee protection, strictly in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. I reiterate our readiness to continue working with UNHCR for the benefit of every refugee. Thank you very much.


Third Committee · Chair [38:43]:

I thank the Permanent Representative of Cuba. I pass the floor to Romania, followed by Portugal. Romania, you have the floor.


Romania [38:51]:

Thank you, Chair.

High Commissioner, thank you for your first report to this Committee.

Romania reiterates its full support for your mandate.

We also add our voice to those recognizing the key value of your leadership and role during this period marked by challenges and change. Forced displacement is not only a humanitarian statistics. Behind every number, there is a person who has left behind a home, a community, and a life built over many years. We know this from direct experience. Romania continues to find itself on the front line of the regional response to the humanitarian consequences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We continue to provide assistance to those who cross our borders seeking safety. Our approach is driven by inclusion and consists of access to health care, social protection, employment, and housing, with sustained efforts to keep children in school. This is in close partnership with many stakeholders. With these efforts in mind, I want to highlight the excellent cooperation with the UNHCR representation in Romania, whose activity we value and commend. High Commissioner, displacement may change a person's life, but it should not define their entire future. How, in your view, can we further strengthen the transition from immediate protection to sustainable inclusion? What are some of the best practices you have noted in this regard?


Third Committee · Chair [40:00]:

Thank you. Thank you. Romania. I pass the floor to Portugal, to be followed by Belarus. Portugal, you have the floor.


Portugal [40:06]:

Chair, High Commissioner, thank you for your report. At a time of growing humanitarian needs and severe funding constraints, Portugal is committed to preserving your mandate to provide effective protection and assistance to refugees. International solidarity and responsibility remain indispensable, particularly supporting host countries and communities. We welcome your 50 by 35 vision: access to education, employment, and essential services services is fundamental to enabling refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity and contribute to host communities. Efforts to promote self-reliance must go hand in hand with the fulfilment of States’ international protection obligations. Ensuring humanitarian assistance remains vital, and any reduction must not occur before sustainable alternatives are in place. Durable solutions, including voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity, local integration, resettlement, and complementary pathways, must remain central to our collective response. We encourage UNHCR cooperation with host countries and other partners. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [41:23]:

Thank you, Portugal. I pass to Belarus, to be followed by China. Belarus, you have the floor.


Belarus [41:28]:

Mr. High Commissioner, we wish to thank you for the report that has been presented. We highly value the professionalism of the contribution of the OHCHR in protection of refugees and seeking long-term solutions. In this connection, we wish to note the 50-35 initiative to reduce by 2035 to half the number of refugees who are under situations of experiencing extended displacement and requiring humanitarian assistance. Achievement of this goal requires that the root causes be addressed, including armed conflict, political instability, as well as socio-economic crises. Equally important is international cooperation and support for host states, as well as creating conditions for voluntary, safe, and dignified return. We, over many years, have been continuously cooperating with OCHR. The practical nature of this cooperation is continuing to be seen today, including through visits to border regions of Belarus, which helps to resolve practical issues in the day-to-day lives of refugees, as well as those seeking to cooperate with local authorities. We value efforts to strengthen national refugee skills, as well as as a vocational training for domestic ministry personnel. Unfortunately, owing to the reduction in humanitarian financing, the office has been working in reduced format, and we hope this will not have an adverse impact on delivery of being assistance to refugees and forcibly displaced persons. We support strengthening the system through greater cooperation, states' fulfillment of their obligations, and seeking lasting solutions. We are confident that this approach will help to implement the initiative in full. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [42:58]:

Thank you, Belarus. I pass the floor to China, to be followed by the European Union. China, you have the floor.


China [43:04]:

Mr. Chair, China thanks High Commissioner Salih for his briefing and commends UNHCR for the various measures taken to address the challenges of global refugee governance. The international community should uphold the humanitarian spirit, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and work together to address the increasingly grave global refugee situation. First, we should uphold multilateralism and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. For many years, developing countries have devoted substantial human and material resources to responding to the refugee crisis. Developed countries should honor their aid commitments, and those countries bearing primary responsibility for refugee problems should expand their assistance. Second, we must uphold the international rule of law and strengthen foundations of global refugee governance. Third, we must tackle both symptoms and root causes and strive to find lasting solutions. Fourth, we must strengthen application of science technology to enhance efficiency of our responses to refugee crisis. China firmly practices true multilateralism by Mitigating regional hotspots, providing financial assistance, carrying out project cooperation, and through other concrete actions, we contribute to global refugee governance. Last year, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative, offering China's solution to global challenges, including refugee problem. guided by this initiative, we stand ready to work with UNHCR and other stakeholders to inject greater certainty and positive energy into global refugee governance and humanitarian efforts. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [44:34]:

Thank you, China. I pass the floor to the European Union, to be followed by the Republic of Korea, then the Permanent Representative of Algeria. European Union, you have the floor.


EU · EU [44:44]:

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, as well as Andorra and San Marino, align themselves with this statement. Thank you, High Commissioner, for your remarks and for your report. We meet against the alarming backdrop of persistently high levels of forced displacement and statelessness worldwide. Those forced to leave their homes must receive protection, and we affirm our commitment to protecting persons in need of international protection and in accordance with our obligations under international law. We share your concerns about the growing challenges faced by refugees, IDPs, returnees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and host communities. A strong collective effort is required to support and ensure the safety and dignity of forcibly displaced persons around the world. We reaffirm our strong support for UNHCR’s core protection mandate and the centrality of protection. I have a question, and the full statement will be available on our website. In light of growing needs and shrinking resources, High Commissioner, what do you see as the most important immediate priorities to preserve protection delivery while building a more sustainable UNHCR for the future under your 50 by 35 vision that we warmly welcome? And let me conclude by reaffirming our deep appreciation for the dedication of your staff and partners on the ground, including local actors. You can count on our support. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [46:14]:

Thank you, European Union. Republic of Korea, you have the floor, to be followed by Cameroon. Republic of Korea.


Republic of Korea [46:20]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With the number of people of concern to UNHCR projected to reach a record by the end of 2027, refugee protection must remain at the center of UNHCR's work as its core mandate. We remain committed to meeting our obligations under the Refugee Convention and upholding its fundamental principles. Stronger global solidarity and more equitable responsibility sharing are essential to advancing international efforts to protect refugees. We continue to support UNHCR through financial contributions and practical cooperation. In conflict-affected and fragile states, we support a range of initiatives under the HDP Nexus, linking humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding. Furthermore, through the Global AI Hub, we will work with UNHCR to provide a useful platform that could support efforts to improve refugee protection. Mr. Chair, we also recognize the importance of making humanitarian action more effective and coherent. In this regard, we welcome ongoing efforts under the UN80 initiative and the humanitarian reset. We encourage UNHCR to continue working with other humanitarian actors to reduce duplication, strengthen data sharing, and expand shared services. We will continue to work with UNHCR and its partners to strengthen refugee protection and advance practical and sustainable solutions for refugees. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [47:44]:

Thank you, Republic of Korea. We have the following tranche of speakers: Cameroon, Malaysia, Qatar, Nigeria, Finland, Namibia, Bangladesh, and Kenya. Cameroon, you have the floor.


Cameroon [47:55]:

Thank you, Chair. My delegation thanks the High Commissioner for his briefing. As a major host country in Central Africa, Cameroon currently provides protection to around 500,000 refugees, primarily from our neighboring countries and beyond, alongside managing more than 1 million IDPs. Consistent with our obligation under international law and our commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees, Cameroon is actively transiting from emergency-based parallel structures toward the sustainable inclusion of refugees directly into our national health, education, and social systems, among others. This aligns with UNHCR's strategic objective to help prolong refugee situation by empowering self-reliance. However, our capacity to maintain this hospitality is being critically undermined by civil global underfunding. UNHCR Cameroon has been impacted by drastic budget reduction, putting a heavy unfair strain on our domestic systems and local host communities. Monsieur le Haut Commissaire.

Mr. High Commissioner. If the international community does not adopt inclusion policies with equitable sharing of the financial burden, our national systems risks being suffocated. What concrete measures is UNHCR taking to encourage big international donors to fill the gap? What's more, how do you intend to increase your support to low and middle-income host countries to make sure that local integration and voluntary return remain viable and funded pathways? Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [49:24]:

Thank you, Cameroon. I pass the floor to Malaysia, to be followed by Qatar. Malaysia.


Malaysia [49:30]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Malaysia thanks the High Commissioner for his report and presentation to the Committee.

Malaysia remains deeply concerned that protected displacement continues to place considerable pressure on host countries, particularly developing countries. As highlighted in the High Commissioner’s report, low- and middle-income countries host 68% of the world’s refugees.

Often despite significant pressure on their national resources and social infrastructure. Malaysia is among the countries that continue to shoulder these challenges. While we remain committed to extending humanitarian assistance within our capacity, the prolonged presence of displaced populations, coupled with diminishing resettlement opportunities, continues to place considerable pressure on our resources. Against this backdrop, Malaysia will welcome the High Commissioner’s views on what concrete measures UNHCR envisages to address the widening gap between resettlement needs and available opportunities, and to ensure that the declining international response does not translate into an even greater and prolonged burden on developing host countries.

I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [50:45]:

Thank you, Malaysia. Qatar, to be followed by Nigeria. Qatar, you have the floor.


Qatar [50:52]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We express our extreme appreciation to the High Commissioner for Refugees. We thank him for his comprehensive report and valuable briefing. And in this regard, we renew the State of Qatar's firm commitment to supporting the Commission's work, and we highly value the pivotal efforts it is making to protect refugees and to provide them with a better future, as well as provide lifesaving assistance to them. And based on the strategic partnership that exists between the State of Qatar and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the State of Qatar has offered support for the resources of the commission amounting to 8 million US dollars. And this cooperation is also embodied by the fact that Doha hosts the office of the UN High Commission for Refugees. And we continue our humanitarian and development efforts to support refugees and IDPs and those who have been displaced by crisis and by disaster, and we welcome what we heard today in that the Commission has renewed its cooperation with the Organization of Education above all to help 200,000 refugee children who are outside of schools by the year 2028. We also look forward for the International Forum on Refugees in 2027 to give us an opportunity to further our partnership.


Third Committee · Chair [52:20]:

I thank you. Thank you, Qatar. I pass the floor to Nigeria, to be followed by Finland. Nigeria, to have the floor.


Nigeria [52:26]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nigeria thanks the High Commissioner and welcomes your report’s recognition of Nigeria’s incorporation of the Kampala Convention, international law, and UNHCR support to our efforts on internal displacement. We also note the Government facilitated returns from Chad and Niger and stress that sustainable integration requires international support. African countries continue to bear disproportionate responsibilities despite limited resources. Equitable responsibility sharing demands predictable, adequate, sustained financial and technical assistance. Consistent with the Global Compact on Refugees, humanitarian assistance must complement long-term development financing and host community support. The full statement is on the UN journal. My question to the High Commissioner: Given the ongoing displacement challenges in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, how does UNHCR intend to strengthen its collaboration with regional institutions and affected governments to address the root causes of displacement and advance durable solutions for displaced populations and host communities? I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [53:34]:

Thank you, Nigeria. I pass to Finland and then Namibia. Finland, you have the floor.


Finland · Nordic Group [53:39]:

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the Nordic countries. The Nordic countries have a long-standing commitment to UNHCR and its mandate to provide protection and seek durable solutions to those forced to flee. When global displacement remains high and the humanitarian sector faces severe funding crisis, upholding UNHCR's mandate is vital. We highly value UNHCR's commitment to defending universal legal frameworks and promoting normative standards. Supporting and advocating for persons in the most vulnerable situations is at the heart of principled humanitarian action. The UNHCR Omnibus Resolution supports the humanitarian and non-political mandate of the UNHCR. We wish to thank all Member States for their constructive participation in the negotiations. We encourage all to co-sponsor, and we call for adoption by consensus. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [54:43]:

Thank you, Finland. I pass to Namibia, then Bangladesh. Namibia, you have the floor.


Namibia · Africa Group [54:48]:

The African Group welcomes the High Commissioner’s report. We note the decline in the global forced displacement to 117.8 million, and we welcome every return made in a safe and dignified manner. We express concern that emergencies in some African countries continued unabated, including climate-related shocks uprooting communities across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. Amid challenges, African states continue to host a large number of refugee populations. Two-thirds of the world’s refugees are in neighboring countries, while 68% are in developing countries, many of them in Africa. The Group regrets that the cost of a 64% funding gap falls disproportionately on host countries and local communities that already shoulder the greatest responsibility. The Group is delighted to highlight Africa’s regional framework for protecting refugees and displaced people, such as the Kampala Convention and the OAU Refugee Convention. High Commissioner, how will the Office ensure that self-reliance is financed through development partners and the international financial institutions, rather than by shifting costs onto host governments and host communities? That will the African Development Bank study change in practice? Second, the group would like to know that out of the 140 offices closed in 15 countries, withdrawals, 115 country withdrawals. How many in Africa and how will protection be maintained in countries where


Third Committee · Chair [56:21]:

Thank you, Namibia.

Bangladesh to be followed by Kenya. Bangladesh, you have the floor.


Bangladesh [56:27]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We thank the High Commissioner for his comprehensive report. Bangladesh commends UNHCR and its leadership for their dedicated efforts to protect refugees and forcibly displaced people. The report presents a grim picture. We express our deep concern over the alarming scale of global displacement and severe funding shortage faced by UNHCR. As a country hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas from Myanmar, Bangladesh bears an immense humanitarian, socio-economic, and environmental burden. Despite our limited resources, we continue to provide shelter and necessary humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya with the support of development partners. However, host countries, as you rightly pointed out, Mr. High Commissioner, cannot shoulder this primary responsibility indefinitely. We appreciate UNHCR’s continued engagement in Bangladesh. We commend its technical support, including for maritime safety training and community-based protection initiatives. Bangladesh reiterates that the Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution lies there. Repatriation of the Rohingya to their ancestral home in Myanmar remains the only viable solution to this protracted crisis. We urge the international community to intensify its diplomatic efforts and exert meaningful pressure on Myanmar to create conditions that allow for safe, voluntary, and early return of the Rohingya. We also urge UNHCR to step up its activities in Rakhine State to support repatriation and build resilience among communities. We echo the report’s highlights that international solidarity, predictable financing, and equitable burden and responsibility sharing are indispensable for both refugees and and host communities until.


Third Committee · Chair [58:00]:

Thank you, Bangladesh. Just a quick reminder to colleagues, for the sake of our interpreters, if we could speak reasonably slowly. Let me pass to Kenya, to be followed by Syrian Arab Republic, please.


Kenya [58:18]:

Thank you, Chair. For more than six decades, Kenya has provided refuge to 800,000 refugees across our region. Our experience affirms that protection demands sustained investment in people, institutions, and communities. This responsibility cannot rest on host communities alone. Chair, through the Shirika Plan, Kenya is translating our commitments into action by shifting from prolonged humanitarian dependency towards socioeconomic inclusion and self-reliance. Concording to the Refugee Act 2021 and Kenya's comprehensive refugee response framework, the plan promotes refugee inclusion in county development planning and access to education, healthcare, and financial system, while expanding opportunities for host communities. These efforts come at a time of severe funding constraint facing UNHCR, with direct consequences for protection and assistance. Kenya is concerned that declining humanitarian and development financing risks undermining progress towards inclusion and self-reliance. while placing additional pressure on host countries and communities. We therefore call for urgent, predictable, and flexible funding. Chair, inclusion in host countries must complement, not replace, other durable solutions. Returns must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, and supported by sustainable reintegration. These efforts must go hand in hand with addressing the root causes of forced displacement. For Kenya, solidarity must translate into delivery. Host countries have demonstrated their commitment through decades of action. The international community should match that commitment by fulfilling global


Third Committee · Chair [59:49]:

Thank you, Kenya.

The following tranche of speakers is Syrian Arab Republic, Ethiopia, Sudan, Venezuela, Pakistan, Armenia, Colombia, Austria, and Egypt. Syrian Arab Republic, you have the floor.


Syrian Arab Republic [1:00:05]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We thank the High Commissioner for his briefing, and we reiterate our support to his work and to UNHCR. Syria used to be one of the worst refugees and displacement crisis in recent history, resulting in millions of refugees and IDPs. UNHCR played a critical role in helping Syrians in Syria and abroad, and for that, they have our gratitude. And we call upon the international community to extend its support to UNHCR and for its projects and activities in Syria. Mr. Chair, we launched the National Vision for Zero Camps with the purpose to close all camps by providing decent living conditions in places of origin. We are also in close cooperation with refugee hosting countries. We welcomed the High Commissioner in Syria last August, where he had the chance to witness the governmental efforts exerted to assure a dignified and sustainable return for Syrian refugees as well as IDPs. He also witnessed the challenges and the amount of need that we are facing, and as the High Commissioner himself said in his press statement at the conclusion of his visit, And I quote, "Syria stand at a historic turning point. Since December 2024, more than 3 million Syrians have already returned, demonstrating their determination to rebuild their nation. A recovery of this magnitude is monumental task that Syria cannot accomplish alone. The international community must act, and it must do so quickly." My question for the High Commissioner is, what role can the international community play to promote the dignified, voluntary, informed, and sustainable return of refugees? Thank you, Mr. Chair.


Third Committee · Chair [1:01:30]:

Thank you, Syria. I pass to Ethiopia, then Sudan. Ethiopia, the floor.


Ethiopia [1:01:36]:

Mr. Chair, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Namibia on behalf of the Africa Group.

Ethiopia's historical legacy of hosting refugees dates back to the 7th century, granting protection to early Muslims escaping persecution while refusing the demand of their return to those persecuting them. This is a major episode as an enduring example of the principle of non-refoulement long before its codification. Informed by this legacy of sanctuary that defines our national character and due to high influx from the neighboring countries, Ethiopia is currently home to 1.2 million refugees, yet the global burden-sharing architecture remains deeply unequal. Developing countries also host over two-thirds of the world's refugees, often with constrained fiscal space. Breaking the cycle of the traditional humanitarian aid model requires a fundamental shift, that's why Ethiopia launched a concrete roadmap that envisions a future where refugees are considered as active contributors to the communities that host them. We also welcome your report that recognizes this initiative. Mr. High Commissioner, Ethiopia commends your vision, and during your official visit to my country in June this year, you highlighted the need for greater investment and responsibility sharing. In light of your assessment, how can the international community move beyond recognizing the efforts of refugee-hosting countries to providing adequate financing and equitable responsibility sharing, as well as meaningful resettlement pathways?

I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:03:03]:

Thank you, Ethiopia. Sudan, followed by Venezuela. Sudan, you have the floor.


Sudan [1:03:09]:

I thank you, Mr. Chair. Sudan commends the efforts of the UNHCR, and we confirm our full support for the 50 by 35 initiative, Mr. Chair. The aggression that is being led by the rapid support militias and with the direct and unlimited support by the well-known regional state has led to one of the most complicated and dangerous humanitarian crises in the world. And the militias over the past few weeks have intensified their attacks using drones that have targeted infrastructure, especially electric facilities, water facilities, as well as warehouses and fuel storage in an attempt to deepen the suffering of the Sudanese people and to obstruct their reconstruction and the voluntary return of refugees and IDPs, however. And despite this, the Sudanese government institutions and people have proven their ability to stand fast and to regain stability throughout most of the country. Sudan today is witnessing the return of approximately 6 million persons to their homes. However, this return is being done under extremely difficult circumstances, as there is widespread destruction of the infrastructure, as we have just mentioned. And therefore, we believe that the international community must deal with Sudan as a partner in development and not just as a humanitarian case that needs urgent care. Therefore, this requires lifting the unilateral coercive measures imposed, as well as removing any financial obstacles that obstruct our attempts to rebuild. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:04:36]:

Thank you, Sudan. Venezuela, to be followed by Pakistan. Venezuela, you have the floor.


Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) [1:04:43]:

Thank you, Chair. Venezuela welcomes the presence of Dr. Baham Saleh, who at the beginning of October was in our country on a very productive working visit, and to whom we reiterate our full cooperation and support in the carrying out of his work. We need to stress the fact that illegal unilateral coercive measures continue to be a key factor increasing requests for international protection, affecting more than a third of humanity in more than 30 countries. They must therefore be lifted at the global level. We are grateful for the effective support provided by UNHCR on the ground in response to the earthquakes in Venezuela on 24 June, leading the Protection Cluster and co-leading the Temporary Infrastructure and Housing Working Group in close coordination with the national government. We moreover welcome the fact that, despite budget cuts, UNHCR continues to allocate funds to support national efforts. Venezuela has a long tradition as a host country and continues to receive refugees and asylum seekers, and via the great return to the homeland vision, we continue to promote the dignified, sustainable and voluntary return of Venezuelans with UNHCR support. Thank you very much.


Third Committee · Chair [1:06:05]:

Thank you, Venezuela. I pass to Pakistan, then Armenia. Pakistan, you have the floor.


Pakistan [1:06:11]:

We thank the High Commissioner for his presentation of his report. Pakistan believes that growing scale of forced displacement

demands a renewed global commitment to addressing its root causes through dialogue, diplomacy, conflict prevention, and peaceful settlement of disputes. For over four decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan nationals, demonstrating exceptional generosity and humanitarian commitment.

This long-standing contribution must be recognized through concrete international support. Mr. Chair, Refugee protection cannot remain the disproportionate responsibility of countries that host large displaced populations.

International solidarity must translate into predictable financing, meaningful burden sharing, and tangible support for host communities.

Pakistan takes note of UNHCR's 50 by 35 vision.

Its implementation must be guided by genuine consultation, national ownership, and the specific circumstances of host countries. Mr. Chair, as we approach the 2027 Global Refugee Forum, Pakistan calls for full implementation of existing pledges and stronger international cooperation to advance durable solutions to refugee question. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:07:25]:

Thank you, Pakistan. I pass to Armenia, to be followed by Algeria. Armenia, you have the floor.


Armenia [1:07:32]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Armenia thanks the High Commissioner for his comprehensive report and commends UNHCR for its vital role in protecting vulnerable populations worldwide. We particularly welcome the report's emphasis on placing durable solutions at the center of responses to refugee crises, an issue of particular relevance to Armenia in light of our recent experience. Since 2020, Armenia has received approximately 131,000 refugees, including more than 115,000 in September 2023, placing considerable pressure on national capacities. In close partnership with UN agencies, particularly UNHCR, Armenia has transitioned from emergency response to long-term protection and inclusion. The National Framework on Inclusive Livelihoods for Refugees and Host Communities, developed in cooperation with UNHCR, provides a coherent basis for this work and contributes to the implementation of Armenia's Global Refugee Forum pledges. We remain concerned about the financial constraints facing UNHCR. Any optimization measures should take into account the needs of refugee-hosting countries and safeguard critical programs. For Armenia, maintaining UNHCR's effective operational capacity on the ground is essential to sustaining progress and ensuring continued support for vulnerable populations. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:08:52]:

Thank you, Armenia. I pass to the Permanent Representative of Algeria, to be followed by Colombia. Permanent

Representative of Algeria.


Algeria · Permanent Representative [1:09:03]:

Thank you, Chair. As you all know, my country is a place of refuge for hundreds of thousands of Sahrawis who have, sometimes under bombings, fled their country, their country which is a non-self-governing territory recognized by the United Nations, but which was invaded in 1975 and which is now subject to an attempted annexation. These are not refugees from hunger or climate or natural disasters. They are refugees because their country was invaded. I know the budgetary constraints facing UNHCR. And I thank the High Commissioner for underscoring that under his responsibility, UNHCR will continue to ensure the protection of refugees in accordance with the Convention that binds us all and has done for the last 75 years. It is something, it is the honor of the UNHCR that needs to resist any easy solutions. branded as lasting, that do not respect the inalienable right of all refugees to a better life in liberty, in dignity and in justice, and also in respect for their right to self-determination. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:10:26]:

I thank the Permanent Representative of Algeria. I pass the floor to Colombia, to be followed by Austria. Colombia, you have the floor.


Colombia [1:10:34]:

Mr. Chair, we thank the High Commissioner for presenting his report, and we acknowledge the vital work UNHCR is doing in a context of sustained humanitarian needs, prolonged displacements, and growing challenges for the pursuit of lasting solutions. Colombia knows firsthand these challenges because we are the host country of more than 2.9 million people, of whom almost 3.2% are refugees and refugee status seekers. On top of that, there are significant challenges that we face in the area of internal displacement. Therefore, Colombia has reformed the process of determining refugee status aimed at overcoming administrative barriers and simplifying requests and strengthening protection guarantees. For the first time also, we are making progress on building a public refugee policy that is participatory in nature. Our aim is to build a more efficient, consistent, and sustainable system. We would like to recognize the support UNHCR has given Colombia over these decades in providing care for internally displaced persons and protection for refugees, migrants, and host communities. We appreciate technical cooperation, and we welcome opportunities for cooperation with the World Bank. We would like to ask the High Commissioner, how do you intend to cooperate with international financial institutions to support the capacities of host countries? Thank you very much.


Third Committee · Chair [1:12:00]:

Thank you, Colombia. I pass the floor to Austria, then Egypt. Austria, you have the floor.


Austria [1:12:06]:

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, High Commissioner, for this informative report.

Austria aligns with the EU statement.

In our national capacity, we have the three following messages. First, behind every number, there is a person who lost a home to war, more than 170 million of them. And we know a home is more than four walls. UNHCR cannot give it back overnight, but it can offer a place where life starts again. A child back at the school desk, a family with papers, a few familiar routines. Turning the shock of loss into stability and one day a path home is a key contribution of UNHCR to international security and stability. Second, as Austria prepares to take its seat on the Security Council, we bring one conviction with us: there is no lasting peace if those fleeing war are forgotten. Protection, humanitarian access, and the 1951 Refugee Convention, which turns 75 this year, should never be footnotes of Council discussions. They belong in the main chapters of our deliberations, because they contribute to a rules-based international order together. Third, Australia stands with you politically and financially, and we support the 50 by 35 vision. One question: more than 14 million people return home this year, many to fragile conditions. What can the Security Council do to make returns safer?


Third Committee · Chair [1:13:34]:

Thank you, Austria. I pass to Egypt, then Canada, and the following tranche of speakers: El Salvador, Guatemala, Germany, Ireland, Russian Federation, Japan, Ukraine, and Türkiye. Egypt, you have the floor.


Egypt [1:13:47]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We welcome Mr. Barhom Saleh, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and commend his efforts, as well as the UNHCR's. And Egypt wishes to align itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group. Egypt values its ongoing cooperation with the UNHCR and refers to its efforts as Egypt currently hosts around 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR. We maintain a deliberate no-camp policy, enabling refugees to live within Egyptian communities and access essential services alongside Egyptian citizens. Egypt also adopted its Foreigners Asylum Law Executive. and regulations in 2026, marking a historic milestone in establishing Egypt's first comprehensive national asylum system. In this view, are there any ongoing efforts or discussions in collaboration with the African Union and the Arab League's affiliated organizations to adapt future planning to the specific challenges these regions face? Furthermore, are there any ideas for leveraging emerging technologies to facilitate the provision of essential services to refugees in a way that ensures the continuity of these services at the lower coast? Thank you so much.


Third Committee · Chair [1:15:02]:

Thank you, Egypt. I pass to Canada, then El Salvador. Canada, have the floor.


Canada [1:15:07]:

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, High Commissioner Saleh, for your briefing today and for your leadership during a period of significant pressure on the international refugee protection system. During this 75th anniversary year, Canada reaffirms its commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its principles. We recognize the difficult trade-offs arising from UNHCR’s funding crisis and underscore the need to safeguard its protection capacity. Canada remains committed to supporting UNHCR through humanitarian assistance and resettlement, where I am pleased to say that we continue to rank first globally, and to advancing the Global Compact on Refugees in the lead-up to the 2027 Global Refugee Forum, including as chair of the consultations on resettlement and complementary pathways. Canada welcomes the 50 by 35 initiative, and we look forward to further detailed briefings as planning advances, including on the 50 by 35 Accelerator Fund. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:16:15]:

Thank you, Canada. El Salvador, followed by Guatemala. El Salvador, you have the floor.


El Salvador [1:16:22]:

Mr. Chair, El Salvador thanks the High Commissioner for presenting his report and recognizes the important work of UNHCR for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, and displaced persons. Faced with rising humanitarian needs and needs for international protection and financial restrictions, we reiterate the importance of strengthening international cooperation, shared responsibility, and support for host, transit, and return countries. El Salvador values its 45 years of cooperation with UNHCR, whose technical and financial support has strengthened our institutional capacities. In particular, we thank the UNHCR for the Committee on the Determination of the Status of Refugees through financing specialized technical professionals, and we hope to continue that support. Also, as the pro temporary chair of the international region of the Comprehensive Regional Framework for Protection Solutions, we would highlight the technical work on receiving refugee requests, jobs, and livelihoods, as well as the exchange of experience among member countries. Mr. High Commissioner, faced with the current financial restrictions. What measures do you think are a priority to guarantee the continuity of technical and financial support to national asylum and protection systems? Thank you very much.


Third Committee · Chair [1:17:44]:

Thank you, El Salvador. Guatemala, to be followed by Germany. Guatemala, you have the floor.


Guatemala [1:17:51]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Guatemala congratulates the High Commissioner for his appointment to lead UNHCR. We take note of the 50 by 35 vision, which to achieve this goal, it will be essential to strengthen international cooperation and ensure sufficient resources so that it drives towards sustainable solutions and that it complements rather than replaces humanitarian assistance and international protection. Guatemala recognizes the importance of improving institutional efficiency and supports reform efforts. Nevertheless, these processes need to preserve the operational presence, technical capacity, and support to states provided by UNHCR. We are concerned by the nearly 32% reduction in the proposed budget for the Americas region, considering that the region continues to face complex human mobility dynamics that require cooperation and technical assistance in the areas of protection and durable At the national level, Guatemala continues to strengthen its national refugee system with UNHCR's support through institutional capacity building and improvements to assistance mechanisms, for example, through the Solidarity Cities Initiative. At the regional level, Guatemala recognizes the is taking on the pro tempore presidency in 2027 of the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework. Thank you very much.


Third Committee · Chair [1:19:19]:

Thank you, Guatemala. I pass to Germany, then Ireland. Germany, you have the floor.


Germany [1:19:24]:

Mr. Chair, Germany aligns itself with the statement by the European Union. High Commissioner, thank you for your report. We commend UNHCR staff working in difficult and dangerous conditions. Respect for international humanitarian law remains indispensable. We welcome your 50 by 35 vision and would like to deepen the dialogue on how Member States can contribute to reach it. I would like to make some suggestions in that regard. First, we need to strengthen the inclusion of refugees in national systems and gradually phase out existing parallel humanitarian structures. Promoting self-reliance and private sector engagement, supported by development actors, is key to reducing aid dependency and advancing durable solutions. This would allow UNHCR to focus on its core protection mandate. Second, long-term international support, development financing, and investment in refugee hosting regions must continue to underpin national leadership. We need to catalyze development investments. The success of 50 by 35 depends on systematically engaging key partners, like the World Bank Group and regional development banks. In addition, local and refugee-led organizations must help shape both responses and reforms, drawing on their knowledge of communities' needs.


Third Committee · Chair [1:20:55]:

Thank you, Germany. Ireland, followed by Russian Federation. Ireland, you have the floor.


Ireland [1:21:02]:

Thank you, Chair. Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the EU and its member states, and thanks the High Commissioner for his report. We share your concern regarding the challenges facing displaced people around the world, at a time when some donors are reducing funding to UNHCR, including critically needed unearmarked funding. Ireland remains a strong supporter of UNHCR. both through our funding, having made our largest ever annual pledge for 2026, and through our support for your critical mandate at a time of unprecedented global need. We welcome the High Commissioner’s 50 by 35 initiative, with its focus on reducing aid dependency and promoting sustainable responses. How does the High Commissioner assess the prospects for the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, in strengthening the 50 by 35 initiative. 75 years on from the Refugee Convention, Ireland remains firmly committed to multilateral solutions to global challenges and to the central role of the United Nations, including UNHCR, and its unique mandate in delivering those solutions. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:22:19]:

Thank you, Ireland. Russian Federation, followed by Japan. Russian Federation.


Russian Federation [1:22:24]:

Mr. Chairman. Mr. High Commissioner, the Russian Federation fully supports the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, whose activities are significant in addressing migration-related issues and strengthening the international regime for protection, as well as seeking lasting solutions for refugees. We note that the work of the Office and the new leadership remains effective. We make an annual voluntary contribution to the budget, including and despite the illegitimate to the restrictions imposed against our nation, including in the banking sphere. This is particularly important when the office is experiencing difficulties related to financing, which the preservation of its main functions depends on. The Convention on the Status of Refugees, which is marking its 75th anniversary this year, remains the bedrock for the effective operations of the asylum institution. Humanitarian institution for certain categories of foreign citizens is enshrined as one of the goals in the blueprint for state migration policy of the Russian Federation for the period up until 2030. Russia has been undertaking significant efforts to host persons requiring protection as well as in delivering assistance to them. The office in Moscow has seen the effectiveness of the efforts of our nation and has regular visits to the areas of accommodation for individuals who arrived in Russia from conflict-ridden areas. To conclude, we wish to assure you that the Russian Federation will continue to provide support to the extent that it's possible to the office. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:23:55]:

Thank you, Russian Federation, Japan, Philippines, Ukraine. Japan, you have the floor.


Japan [1:24:00]:

Thank you, Chair. I thank High Commissioner for his insightful briefing and commend UNHCR for its dedicated efforts to protect refugees and displaced persons worldwide. Japan was pleased to welcome High Commissioner during his recent visit to Japan, where our Prime Minister and Foreign Ministry affirmed our strong partnership and cooperation with UNHCR. Japan welcomes UNHCR's 50 by 35 initiative to promote self-reliance and support its efforts. Alongside our long-standing public support, Japan continues to promote UNHCR's partnership with the private sector to enhance resource mobilization and solutions. Guided by the principle of human security, Japan attaches great importance to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, which is a key approach to advancing durable solutions, including voluntary return, reintegration, and resettlement. Japan remains committed to working closely with UNHCR and other international and local partners to support refugees and displaced persons while easing the burden on host communities. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:25:19]:

Thank you, Japan. I pass to Ukraine, followed by Turkey. Ukraine, you have the floor.


Ukraine [1:25:25]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. High Commissioner, Ukraine is grateful for your work to protect displaced people and support durable solutions. On the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, we also reaffirm our commitment to its principles. Russia’s war of aggression has left some 10 million Ukrainians displaced within Ukraine or abroad. Continued attacks on civilian and essential infrastructure force more families to flee and prevent safe returns. We condemn attacks on humanitarian workers, including UNHCR personnel and national partners. They must be protected and perpetrators held accountable. We thank UNHCR for its protection services in Ukraine, but funding shortfalls threaten this work. We urge donors to sustain their contributions and UNHCR to preserve programs for vulnerable displaced persons and returnees. We also thank European and other host countries for welcoming Ukrainians. Temporary protection remains vital, alongside sustained implementation of UNHCR regional refugee response plan in 2027. Ukraine stands ready to welcome its citizens home and support their voluntary, safe, and dignified return with the support of UNHCR. This requires addressing the root cause of displacement, and we urge the international community to compel Russia to cease hostilities and move towards a just and lasting peace based on the UN Charter. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:26:53]:

Thank you, Ukraine. Türkiye, you have the floor.


Türkiye [1:26:58]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We also thank Mr. High Commissioner for his comprehensive report.

For many years, Turkey has extended hospitality and solidarity to millions of Syrians, providing temporary protection and access to education, health care, shelter, and employment opportunities. Following 8 December 2024, we have intensified our efforts to support Syria's reconstruction and its path towards peace, stability, and prosperity, and to facilitate voluntary, safe, and orderly returns, while recognizing that returns will increase as living conditions improve. We believe that sustained international support for reconstruction, essential services, and livelihoods is crucial to making returns sustainable. Refugee protection is a shared international responsibility. The burden of addressing large-scale and prolonged displacement cannot be left only to host countries. Addressing root causes, supporting sustainable voluntary return, and expanding resettlement opportunities all remain equally essential. In the report, we particularly welcome the attention to transfer and removal arrangements that seek to shift asylum processing and responsibility for refugees to third countries, and concern arising from such practices. We hope future reports will examine this concern more extensively, particularly practices that undermine protection or equitable responsibility sharing. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:28:28]:

Thank you, Turkiye. The next tranche of speakers is United Kingdom, Myanmar, Spain, India, Mexico, Brazil, Jordan, and finally, Sovereign Order of Malta. United Kingdom, you have the floor.


United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:28:40]:

Thank you, Chair. The United Kingdom thanks the UNHCR for its report and for the High Commissioner's continued leadership in protecting refugees and displaced people and supporting communities that host them. We strongly support the international protection system, with the 1951 Convention at its heart, and remain committed to its core principles. But, as the report makes clear, that system is under pressure. Whilst the report indicates that global displacement has fallen, some 9 million asylum seekers were awaiting decisions at the end of 2025. Nearly 70% of refugees remain in protracted displacement. Our task is to protect protection, preserving the Convention's fundamental principles, while at the same time ensuring the system remains relevant and effective. This requires reform based on shared responsibility, cooperation, and fairness. Too many refugees remain dependent on humanitarian assistance. The UK supports the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 ambition and welcomes the report's focus on solutions. No country can achieve this alone. We would therefore welcome the High Commissioner's views on how his dialogue on protection in December can serve as a platform to build wider political support for this reform agenda.

Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:29:57]:

Thank you, United Kingdom. I pass to the Permanent Representative of Myanmar. You have the floor.


Myanmar · Permanent Representative [1:30:02]:

Thank you, Chair. I thank the High Commissioner for his report and commend UNHCR's dedication amidst global funding shortfalls. In Myanmar, the root cause of our mass displacement remains the illegal military coup. The junta continue to commit horrific abuses with absolute impunity. Recent indiscriminate airstrikes killed displaced children in Kachin State and destroyed, among other, a maternity clinic in Rakhine State, killing innocent civilians. With people trapped by daily hostility, the scale of violence leaves many no alternative but forced displacement across borders. The sharp rise in the atrocities in Myanmar make the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of displaced persons impossible at this time. Myanmar's refugees desperately want to go home, but a durable solution requires addressing the root cause. The military dictatorship, its war crime, and its enjoyment of impunity, and its expanding transnational criminal network must end. We remain deeply indebted to the host country and ask you to uphold the refugee rights, ensure continued access to protections, and strictly adhere to non-reform as force return under these conditions put a direct threat to life. States must immediately cease the transfer of arms, equipment, dual-use items, and financial support to the junta. It is imperative for the member states and international organizations to cooperate formally with our democratic forces. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:31:32]:

Thank you, Myanmar. I pass to Spain, then India. Spain, you have the floor.


Spain [1:31:37]:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Spain aligns itself with the statement by the European Union and its member states. In a national capacity, I'll make a few additional comments. First of all, I'd like to thank the High Commissioner for his presentation and reiterate Spain's firm support for UNHCR's mandate in a particularly complex context. Forced displacement is rooted in conflicts and violence, but also in persecution, discrimination, and grave human rights violations. Therefore, there can be no sustainable peace where human rights, fundamental freedoms, and human dignity are not respected. Spain values UNHCR's emphasis on durable solutions, inclusion, and self-sufficiency, and we will continue to support resettlement and complementary pathways. We would also like to underscore that border management, security, and the protection of human rights are lawfully compatible objectives. States have the legitimate right to manage their borders, but always in accordance with international law, guaranteeing protection of life and human dignity, and effective access to international protection for those that need it. I would like to conclude with a question. What is your opinion about how we can strengthen the prevention of forced displacements linked to persecution, discrimination, and human rights violations, especially in contexts of fragility and conflict? Thank you very much.


Third Committee · Chair [1:33:00]:

Thank you, Spain. I pass to India, then Mexico. India, have the floor.


India [1:33:06]:

Thank you, Chair. I thank the High Commissioner for the detailed briefing. India has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees. From Christians and Jews fleeing persecution in the ancient times, to more recently refugees from near and far neighbourhoods fleeing conflict, India has offered shelter to them despite our own development and security challenges. This emanates from our Constitution, which guarantees to all persons, regardless of citizenship, fundamental rights to life, liberty, equality before law, and equal protection of law. My delegation would like to draw the attention of the High Commissioner to an evolving reality. We're seeing increasing attempts to merge legal frameworks of migration with that of refugees. When terms such as mixed migration obscure the distinction between irregular migration in search of better economic prospects with that of refugees fleeing political persecution or conflict, it not only undermines a carefully structured international legal architecture on refugees, and erodes the refugee protection standards, it also creates a negative perception about legal and regular migration. This intentional conflation is also a fundamental reason for the global backlash against refugees who are truly in need of our generous assistance. UNHCR and IOM should do all they can to keep this vital distinction between refugees and migration clear. where irregular migration is against national laws, one must not conflate it with refugees fleeing political persecution, nor seek to justify it misusing international law framework related to refugees. India stands ready to work with international community to address global refugee crisis, guided by our own principles.


Third Committee · Chair [1:34:36]:

Thank you, India. I pass to Mexico, then Brazil. Mexico, you have the floor.


Mexico [1:34:42]:

Thank you, Chair. Mr. High Commissioner, we would like to thank you for your report. We recognize your leadership in a very complicated global context for refugees and displaced persons. We are concerned by various information in the report, such as the higher percentage of children that make up these groups, the financial shortages in funding for UNHCR, the drop in ODA, difficulties facing humanitarian personnel and the externalization of responsibility for providing asylum and refuge by some States. Mexico is convinced that the solution lies in sufficiently funding UNHCR and preventing the conflicts which mean that people need special protection. We believe it is essential to strengthen the cross-border management of this by States that are along mixed movement routes, as well as cooperation with NGOs. As your report notes, with fair and effective asylum systems, we can implement international protection by guaranteeing access to procedures, expanding documented pathways, and safeguarding human rights. Mexico is grateful for support for improving responses to internal displacement in my country, and your report's recognition of the Oaxaca State's approval or adoption of its first law on internal displacement? Lastly, we would like to know a bit more about your recommendations for formally including civil society in the appropriate management of flows.


Third Committee · Chair [1:36:14]:

Thank you, Mexico. I pass to Brazil, then Jordan. Brazil.


Brazil [1:36:18]:

Thank you, Chair. Brazil thanks the High Commissioner for the report and commends UNHCR and its staff for their commitment to refugee protection. We are concerned by increasingly restrictive asylum policies, prioritizing border control over international protection obligations, including through the externalization of asylum responsibilities. Rather than addressing protection needs, these securitized responses limit access to rights and leave refugees with fewer options to seek safety. The shortage of safe and regular pathways coupled with a significant decline in resettlement opportunities, further restricts access to protection and durable solutions, contributing to onward movements and additional pressures on asylum systems. Against this backdrop, low- and middle-income countries have generally kept their borders open and continue to host around two-thirds of all displaced people. Their efforts must be met with sustained and predictable international support, grounded in equitable responsibility sharing and recognition of the essential role played by host countries. Chair, Brazil remains committed to translating solidarity into concrete action. Brazilian legislation guarantees refugees and asylum seekers access to employment, healthcare, education, and social assistance on equal terms with Brazilian nationals and without any kind of discrimination.


Third Committee · Chair [1:37:50]:

Thank you, Brazil. I pass to Jordan.


Jordan [1:37:55]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We welcome the High Commissioner of UNHCR, Mr. Burham Saleh. We would like to thank him for his report and his valuable briefing. We commend the effort of UNHCR in protecting the refugees and meeting their needs despite the humanitarian challenges and the financial problems. Jordan continues to receive refugees, providing them with main services, despite the pressure on our vital sectors and the host communities. We stress that providing a decent life for refugees is a shared responsibility between host countries and others. Sharing this responsibility must be reflected in sustainable support that will enable the host countries to continue to provide services to the refugees and their own citizens. Turning to Syrian refugees, we stress the importance of providing support to them and their host countries until their voluntary return is possible. But we also underline the need to invest in these conditions through supporting Syria, its stability and reconstruction effort, to provide the conditions conducive for the return. We call upon the international community to continue their support to the UNHCR, host countries and others, and reflect the responsibility sharing into a real international support. Thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:39:09]:

Dawn, and the final intervention from the floor is from the Sovereign Order of Malta. You have the floor.


SMOM [1:39:14]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is estimated that at the end of 2025, there were approximately 41.6 million refugees around the world. The Order of Malta remains committed to supporting refugees and those far from home. Indeed, it has been a core part of our mission for the last 900 years. Since 2022, our associations in Ukraine and the Baltic States have reached over 4 million Ukrainians through providing 60,000 psychosocial support services. Additionally, we support Syrian refugees in Lebanon through our mobile medical units, and in Kenya, we have recently upgraded the maternity ward at the Kakuma Mission Hospital, which serves over 600,000 refugees. In 2025, in Uganda, we supported the improvement of emergency medical transport services, trained healthcare workers, and provided more than 27,000 refugees with health services. In Bangladesh, in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps, through our local partners, we have supported Rohingya refugees with mental health and psychosocial support sessions. In a world that often feels increasingly hostile to the outsider, we call on the international community to abide by the commitments of the Refugee Convention and to uphold the protection and dignity of refugees across the world. I thank you.


Third Committee · Chair [1:40:42]:

I thank all delegations for their contribution. It’s now my pleasure to pass the floor back to the High Commissioner. So you have the floor.


UNHCR · High Commissioner for Refugees [1:40:49]:

Thank you so very much. Excellencies, Really, thank you for these important interventions and contributions, and for your statements of support and solidarity with UNHCR as it attempts to deliver its mandate. You have also presented me with a number of very direct questions. I will try and address them in a collective way. I have been asked about priorities at a time of reducing resources. and shrinking resources, how can we prioritize? I will be honest, prioritizing this crisis over another is never an easy thing, because what we're talking about in so many dynamics is about delivering life-saving assistance and protection for people who need it. And you cannot simply say, i will prioritize this crisis over the other because there are people's lives and livelihoods that is involved. Having said that, I want to tell you that our focus is our core mandate, which is to provide protection. That is what we are obligated to do under the Convention. The Convention also requires us to provide life-saving assistance in emergencies when needed. and also to work on solutions as a way beyond dependency. On the solutions agenda, many of you have asked about the transition and the partnerships. I can assure you, i know full well this solutions agenda cannot be delivered by UNSCR on its own. It's far beyond its resources and even its mandate. We are not a development actor. What we will have to do is to be a catalyst to working closely with the development banks and institutions, the World Bank for sure. We have had some very important conversations and discussions, and we have identified. 5 priority countries for now that we will be focused on to see how we can help with the provision of development support with the idea of including refugees. We have had serious conversations and discussions with the IFC. IMF and others on this particular agenda. The same applies to the Inter-American Development Bank and other regional development institutions. The role of the private sector in working on this vision is absolutely vital because we do not want development support to be another form of humanitarian dependency. This has to be about building the infrastructure, the dynamics for creating sustainable, self-reliant for these refugee communities. You have also asked me about the Human High Commissioner's Dialogue and the Global Refugee Forum. The High Commissioner's Dialogue is going to start on December 7 and 8, and this is an important opportunity where we will have our partners from Member States, donors, host nations, And also, very importantly, because this has come up, civil society and refugee-led organizations that are coming to Geneva, thanks to the help of the Swiss government. We are going to have two days of extensive conversations and dialogues and panels on many of these issues, and certainly 50 by 35 will be a major feature in this conversation. This high level, High Commissioner's Dialogue is also part of the preparations of the Global Refugee Forum in 2027 that will really look to making sure that the partners are coming together, really acting on this program and this agenda to not only helping refugees immediately with protection that they need, that is a core responsibility, obligated by our shared humanity, by our legal obligations under the Convention, but really about harnessing the collective collaboration of the various actors to make sure that self-reliance and returns and solutions are really embodied in every operations that we do, because ultimately this is what is needed. I have been asked about how do we prevent displacement in the first place. That requires serious political effort by by member states, by international actors, regional actors, to really focus on prevention of conflict. I probably see my colleague from Syria with us. Had the international community acted in 2010, 11, 12 to really contain that conflict and bring it to an end, probably today we would be talking about a different political construct in many, many places, the impact, the humanitarian and human cost of that conflict. And if I may say, with the essentially, let me not call it indifference, but lack of capacity to prevent that conflict at that moment of time and allowing it to continue for years on years, nearly 15 years, led to the displacements of millions of Syrians that have really impacted not just the immediate neighborhood, but the world beyond. What we see in Sudan, this ongoing conflict, this horrendous tragedy that has impacted millions and millions of people, not to mention the horrendous human rights abuses that requires accountability and bringing those war criminals to justice. If we do not act to contain these conflicts, and people who are perpetrating these with impunity and continue like this, we have to admit and accept the fact that more displacement will happen. That's why this is a call for the international community to really come together and making sure that these conflicts are prevented in the first place and that they are brought to an end, because managing conflicts year on end and as becoming a new normal in our International order is not really the way forward, and humanitarian assistance cannot help dealing with the consequences of these utter failures by the international system. I was asked by the distinguished delegate from India about conflation between migration and refugees. In some ways, i have to say I agree, because refugees are defined by the convention to mean persons who have a well-founded fear of persecution, who are fleeing conflict, violence, and other threats. It's very well defined, and asylum systems are meant to provide protection for this category of individuals. The law is clear. Migration and people who are seeking a different way of life, a better way of life. This is part of human history. This has to be dealt with through immigration laws, migration laws, labor laws that we expect, hope, and require to be rooted in basic human rights, be humane, be orderly, and so on. But I want to say, refugee, Law is clear, asylum system is meant for refugees, and I am, as High Commissioner for Refugees, is not equivocating in saying that we need to protect the integrity of the asylum system, and we need to protect the asylum system, including its protection from abuse, because that asylum system is meant for people who are fleeing persecution or fleeing war and violence. And we cannot afford to look the other way. We have to be there to provide that protection. That protection means life saving. I was, if I may end with this, I was on the border in Chad, in Adre, seeing this stream of individuals and families crossing the border. That border was a change, was a difference between life and death for so many of these people, especially the women and girls, Mr. Chair. We cannot look the other way. Protection is vital. Our shared humanity and our legal responsibility obliges us to be there to provide that that protection that is so vital. I am proud that UNHCR is entrusted with this mission and is delivering on this mission. I count on your support to make sure that we do this for the people who need it. Thank you, sir.


Third Committee · Chair [1:50:49]:

I thank the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Saleh, for joining us today and for your remarks and your response to the interventions from the floor. That brings us to the end of today's proceedings, and in fact, it brings us to the very last of the interactive dialogues that we've been considering. Let me remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under agenda items 59, 68, and 69 is this afternoon at 6:00 PM, so you don't have very far to go. And the committee will begin its action phase on Tuesday, 10 November, at 10:00 AM promptly. The list of draft proposals to be considered will be available on iGov in advance of the meetings in the usual way, as is information on the work of the Committee. Thank you all for your engagement and participation this afternoon. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Thank you very much.