GENEVA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Donor governments across the world commit a record 926 million U.S. dollars in initial pledges for refugees, internally displaced and stateless people in 2019, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Wednesday.
Describing the pledges made at an annual donor gathering in Geneva Wednesday as coming at a time of increased complexity for asylum globally, the UNHCR said that these early pledges are useful indication of anticipated funding levels and overall support.
The agency's global financial requirements for 2019 amount to a record 8.591 billion U.S. dollars, a slight increase from 2018 appeal. The funds pledged Wednesday are higher than last year, when the same gathering yielded 857 million U.S. dollars in initial announcements by donors.
"Today, the UN refugee agency is working to meet the immediate protection and humanitarian needs of 68.5 million people displaced by violence or persecution, returnees and stateless," the statement said.
According to the UNHCR, in today's world new displacements and multiple older crises are occurring in parallel.
What's more, the UN agency said, at the same time factors such as climate change, poverty and inequality are also fueling conflict, which in turn creates new displacement dynamics.
"As we face unprecedented levels of forced displacement and complexity of challenges, I thank our donors for staying the course. Lives and futures of those forced to flee their homes depend on our ability to deliver vital protection and shelter," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the conference.
"Preparedness is key in humanitarian response," he noted.
