RYANN LAI
ASSOCIATE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND PHILANTHROPY OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
As wars rage in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, the global displacement crisis is more fraught than ever. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that more than 114 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide as at the end of September 2023. In March this year, in an interview with Radio Davos, the flagship podcast of the World Economic Forum, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations (UN) high commissioner for refugees, warned of a troubling forecast: that figure could double within the next decade due to ongoing conflicts.
Established in 1950 by the UN General Assembly after the Second World War, the UNHCR now operates in 135 countries, helping those forced to flee due to conflict and persecution. Its efforts include not only immediate aid, but also the strengthening of legal protections for refugees and the fostering of community‑based solutions for safe resettlement or local integration. In response to these escalating challenges, the UNHCR is intensifying its efforts worldwide to enhance its response capabilities and mobilise resources more effectively. For 2024, it has outlined the need for more than US$10.6 billion in funding to support an expected 130.8 million forcibly displaced and stateless people from 133 countries and territories.
As the UNHCR strengthens its global response to the increasing challenges of displacement, its efforts are mirrored on a smaller scale in regional hubs. Although Singapore is free from the direct impact of such displacement crises, it is home to a local operation that plays a crucial role in supporting strategies focused on
