"We are grateful for this vote of confidence, which will help us deal with the growing challenge of forced displacement around the world," he noted, while adding: "Our programme this year received strong support and we trust donors will respond equally generously in 2008."
As UNHCR relies almost entirely on voluntary funding, it is vital to get early and generous pledges so that it can plan effectively and continue operations to help those uprooted by conflict and persecution without interruption. So far, 93% of that 2007 budget has been funded by donors.
In addition to its regular budget, UNHCR has appealed for some $480 million for emergency and special programmes in places such as Iraq, Darfur and Somalia. This will bring the agency's total expected budget in 2008 to more than $1.57 billion, compared to $1.45 billion in 2007.
The largest operations in the 2008 combined annual budget are Iraq, Chad and Sudan, Afghanistan, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The leading donors to UNHCR last year were, in order: the United States, Sweden, the European Commission, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Italy, Australia and Finland.
UNHCR is present in 116 countries, has 262 offices worldwide with 6,260 staff members – 5,400 of whom are in the field. The agency works with 624 partners to provide help and assistance to 32.9 million refugees, displaced and stateless people.
Source: UNHCR
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