On 18 March 2025, CEO Amber Bauer and Trustee Laura Darwish saw Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), deliver a compelling talk at King’s College London titled Refugee Protection and the Narrative of Possibility.

In a world facing complex humanitarian crises, Grandi made the case that solutions exist, especially in the face of increasing challenges, if we just approach displacement pragmatically, justly and with courage.

A Complex and Politicised Crisis

The refugee crisis is often manipulated by politicians to appear impossible to solve.

It’s not impossible to solve. Grandi countered this narrative, assuring us that responses to forced displacement are possible, but they require pragmatism, cooperation and courage. Although the UNHCR is mandated to work with governments to find solutions, it’s ever more difficult when political will erodes.

Of course, the preferred outcome for everyone is voluntary and safe return of people to their homelands. But when this isn’t possible – which is most often the case – other solutions must be found.

Grandi asked us, did we know there are 120 active conflicts worldwide? And many conflicts are lasting longer than ever before, so solutions for those who seek safety elsewhere need to be longer-term as well. Some conflicts we know about like Ukraine, Palestine and Sudan, but others are less known like Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Venezuela. And it’s not just war that drives displacement, but also violence, human rights abuses and organised crime. Many being further exacerbated by climate change. There is no world region left untouched.

A World in Crisis: The Weakening of International Law

The UN Security Council, meant to be the most powerful peacekeeping body, has never faced such an overwhelming number of crises. Yet, interference in conflicts by external actors has made resolutions more elusive. Grandi highlighted how wars have become increasingly unprincipled with a dilution of international laws that were once upheld. He pointed to conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, where the targeting of civilians has become alarmingly commonplace. This breakdown of international law is one of the root causes of forced displacement – and with UNHCR official stats reporting 123 million people displaced globally, the crisis is only worsening.

The Global Refugee Response puts a Strain on Host Nations

Contrary to popular perception, most refugees do not flee to wealthy nations. In reality:

• 71% of refugees are hosted in poor or middle-income countries.
• 69% seek refuge in neighbouring nations.

Countries like Pakistan (hosting Afghan refugees), Turkey (hosting Syrian refugees) and Columbia (hosting Venezuelan refugees) bear a disproportionate burden and they are not the wealthiest nations and have troubles of their own.

Meanwhile, the perception in the Global North that migration creates chaos and disorder is unhelpful. It leads politicians to respond with border hardening, pushbacks and deterrence policies rather than meaningful solutions.

Retreating International Aid will have Significant Consequences

The recent spate of Governments retreating from international aid means funding is being significantly cut at a time when global humanitarian needs have never been greater. Grandi warned that reductions in aid will lead to more instability, more displacement, and more suffering.

The United States, historically the largest contributor to humanitarian aid, has frozen funding. As 40% contributors to UNHCR and its sister organisation for migration, IOM, this decision has triggered the need for immediate cuts across the UN system. It is currently unknown how long the freeze in international Aid will be, or what the long-term cuts will be. And the USA isn’t alone, including here in the UK where this Labour Government very recently slashed contributions to UNHCR and other aid programmes.

Grandi is clear that the consequences are dire. For one thing, less money means more attempts to control what the money is for and this will lead to even worse equity. Well known conflict and difficulty zones receiving support, whilst the people in other areas, not in the news headlines, receive nothing.

He cited Sudan, a country already ravaged by war. These cuts in humanitarian funding will lead to a sharp increase in deaths, displacement. And, when people cannot find food, shelter or medical care, they will continue to move. They have no choice.

Changing the Narrative – from Burden to Opportunity

Acknowledging the fairly bleak outlook presented so far, Grandi closed on three positive suggestions.

1. A shift in perspective. Instead of viewing refugees as a burden, Grandi calls for recognition of their contributions.
2. Move the debate about solutions from the “last border” (the border of the rich countries) to the whole journey. Refugees need opportunities, access to work and services along their whole journey.
3. Cooperation between States. Changing the rhetoric from doing it alone, to collaboration and compromise.

He went on to add that many who are forced to flee bring skills, resilience and economic potential to their host countries highlighting inspiring examples:

• Colombia took the brave decision to grant 2 million Venezuelans access to work, healthcare and education. It’s led to faster integration and quite immediate and visible economic benefits.
• Kenya was hosting 700,000 Somali and South Sudanese refugees in two camps, each close to the respective border. They bravely chose to integrate rather than isolate the people there. Kenya turned each refugee camp into a municipality and therefore extending full access to services and work. It’s benefited both refugees and local citizens.

Approaches of inclusion and integration are far more effective than keeping refugees in limbo, waiting for alternative solutions that will probably never come.

The reality is that no country can handle displacement alone, just as no country could fight COVID-19 or climate change alone. However, cooperation requires compromise, which feels increasingly unpopular in today’s political climate.

The Role of Grassroots Organisations

One of the few positive shifts in humanitarian response has been the growing recognition of grassroots organisations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when international actors were unable to reach crisis zones, it was local organisations who stepped up. Now, UNHCR is prioritising investment in grassroots groups, which are often more effective at providing immediate and sustainable solutions. However, without sufficient funding and resources, even grassroots organisations will not be able to operate effectively.

The Path Forward: A Call to Action

When global aid funding declines, humanitarian organisations like UNHCR face painful choices – scaling back operations, reducing support and leaving people in desperate conditions. Grandi acknowledged that this will lead to real suffering, real consequences, real deaths – not for bureaucracies, but for those in need.

To help counteract this decline he called on civil society, businesses and institutions to step up and advocate for solutions. While politics may drive a narrative of impossibility, we cannot be passive bystanders. By recognising the value of refugees, supporting humanitarian aid and fostering international cooperation, we can turn the narrative of impossibility into one of possibility.

Grandi’s message was clear: Refugees are not the problem. Political inaction, lack of cooperation and weakening international laws are. The solutions exist, but only if we demand courage over fear, justice over exclusion, and inclusion over isolation.