UNHCR to reduce presence in Ivory Coast amid financial crisis

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office for Ivory Coast — which also covers four other coastal countries — will be forced to drastically reduce its operations in the region by the end of this year because of a financial crisis, Radio France Internationale reported on June 10th.

Established in 2024 to respond to the ongoing Sahel crisis, the office currently supports refugees in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, and Togo, assisting over 184,500 people.

However, due to severe financial constraints, the UNHCR is expected to cut staff and suspend the majority of its activities. Olivier Beer, the UNHCR’s Multi-Country Representative, described the financial crisis as both sudden and critical. He noted that while the agency requested a $57 million budget for 2025 — just enough to cover essential operations — only around 16% has been secured so far.

As a result, the UNHCR will maintain only a minimal presence in the four countries while urging local governments to take on a greater role in addressing the crisis. This comes as refugee numbers continue to climb, particularly in Ivory Coast, where asylum seekers are estimated to number around 80,000.

The UNHCR has called on the international community to provide urgent support, particularly in helping national authorities manage the growing humanitarian needs. In Ivory Coast alone, it is estimated that €12 million will be required to cover basic services such as food, healthcare, education, and initiatives to foster social cohesion.

In early July, a regional conference is scheduled in Lomé to discuss the financial emergency and develop a coordinated sub-regional strategy for refugee management.

Radio France Internationale, Maghrebi.org