Islamabad: Pakistan has deplored insufficient and woefully worrying global response to deepening refugee crisis. Delivering a national statement during the Security Council briefing on refugees, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said he called for provision of timely, predictable humanitarian and development support to refugee-hosting countries; and giving support as grants, not loans. He asked the donors to increase funding to UNHCR to match the growing displacement crisis.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad emphasized the critical need for the international community to step up and recognize the challenges faced by countries that are currently hosting large numbers of refugees. He pointed out that these countries often bear the brunt of the financial and social impact of the crisis, and yet receive limited support from the international community.

The ambassador’s statement highlighted the urgency of the situation, urging donor countries to prioritize their funding strategies towards humanitarian efforts. The call for grants instead of loans is seen as a crucial step in ensuring that refugee-hosting countries are not further burdened with debt as they try to cope with increasing numbers of refugees.

Ambassador Ahmad’s appeal to increase funding to the UNHCR reflects the growing displacement crisis, which continues to escalate due to conflicts and instability in various regions. He stressed that without adequate financial support, the ability of host countries to provide essential services and integration opportunities for refugees remains severely compromised.