Dear John,

Last year UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, had to respond to more emergencies than ever before. From Türkiye to Sudan, from Myanmar to Armenia, more people than ever before were forced to flee their homes or remained in exile due to war, persecution and violence. An unprecedented number of disasters – from earthquakes to floods and cyclones – also affected people forced to flee and caused more displacement.

But thanks to the generous support of donors like you, we were prepared to provide life-saving assistance and protection services to those who needed it most.

Via 55 airlifts and countless truck convoys, we dispatched 7.4 million emergency relief items (such as blankets, sleeping mats, solar lamps and kitchen sets) to new emergencies and ongoing crises around the world, to serve up to 16.7 million people.

Your donation directly made a difference in the lives of refugees such as Zeinab, who fled Sudan’s West Darfur state with her children after gunmen shot and killed her husband and burned down their house. By the time Zeinab and her children arrived by foot to Chad, they had not eaten for several days. UNHCR was able to relocate them to Farchana refugee camp.

“I'm very grateful to the humanitarian workers who brought us here. Before that, we had no shelter, no mats to sleep on, and no toilets. Now, they've given me a house, mats, blankets, and mosquito nets, and I'm quite comfortable.”

Zeinab is just one person of the millions worldwide who received life-saving support in 2023. This would not be possible without our community of donors like you, John. We need supporters like you to ensure that we are prepared for the next emergency, ready to hit the ground running as soon as needed.

Please visit our Press Release and 2023 Report, for comprehensive insights into UNHCR’s emergency preparedness and response efforts throughout 2023.

With gratitude,

Rocco Nuri
Head of Emergencies and External Engagement Unit
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency