Switzerland pledges CHF125 million to UN refugee agency
The Swiss Federal Council (executive body) has pledged CHF125 million ($126 million) to the Geneva-based Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the 2019–2022 period.
The multi-year support should enable the agency to respond rapidly to large population displacements, such as in Bangladesh in 2017 when more than 900,000 refugees from Myanmar arrived within a few months, the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement on FridayExternal link.
Last year, over 21 million people benefited from UNHCR’s assistance and protection programmes worldwideExternal link. A total of 8.5 million people gained access to drinking water and 1.8 million refugee children were able to attend primary school, the Swiss foreign ministry added.
Switzerland’s partnership with the UNHCR is key to implementing its strategy linking international cooperation and national migration interests, it said.
Until 2018, Swiss contributions to UNHCR were made on an annual basis. The average value of Switzerland’s total humanitarian aid contributions to the UNHCR over the 2015-2018 period was CHF36.4 million per year.
Last year, Switzerland gave the agency CHF43 million, becoming its 14th-largest government donorExternal link. The United States, the European Union and Germany were the top three government donors in 2018. In addition, 31 members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit were seconded to UNHCR for civilian protection and water field missions.
The Swiss government makes additional ad hoc financial contributions to UNHCR depending on sudden or worsening humanitarian crises.
Since 2011, the Alpine nation has allocated over CHF42 million to support UNHCR’s activities for victims of the Syria crisis, including help for 5.6 million refugees in neighbouring countries and for 6.2 million people forced from their homes but still in Syria.
More
More
Has the UN lost the refugee debate in Europe?
This content was published on
People continue to die crossing the Mediterranean Sea but immigration is falling down the political agenda in Europe. Can the UN reclaim the debate?
Swiss car importer ordered to pay CHF4.2 million CO2 penalty
This content was published on
In finding that a car importer engaged in dishonest practices must pay a multimillion-dollar fine, the court also clarified the penalties in general.
Large viewership tuned into controversial 2024 Eurovision Song Contest
This content was published on
Switzerland was one countries boasting more viewers than ever before. A large proportion of younger viewers were also found to have tuned in.
Switzerland Tourism takes stock of three years of pandemic recovery
This content was published on
2023 saw an unprecedented number of overnight guests, suggesting that the industry has been able to bounce back through additional funding, marketing and development.
This content was published on
The bank's CEO acknowledges that the institution is "too big to fail." There is however disagreement with certain of the proposed regulations.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Has the UN lost the refugee debate in Europe?
This content was published on
People continue to die crossing the Mediterranean Sea but immigration is falling down the political agenda in Europe. Can the UN reclaim the debate?
This content was published on
After a spike in 2016, asylum applications in Switzerland have been in steady decline. Migrants are seeking now seeking alternative routes.
Switzerland to vote in favour of global compact on refugees
This content was published on
The refugee compact is based on the New York Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2016. This eventually led to the development of two global frameworks: the global compact for migration and the global compact on refugees. Switzerland has not yet signed the former after opposition from parliamentarians. On Friday, the government confirmed…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.