The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, has warned that a growing number of migrants are crossing through Libya toward Europe, driven by severe funding cuts to humanitarian operations across Africa.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Grandi described the budget reductions facing the UN refugee agency as “catastrophic” and blamed donor shortfalls for the worsening migration surge across the Mediterranean. He urged European nations to strengthen existing asylum infrastructure in African countries rather than invest in untested external processing systems.
Grandi pointed to “clear evidence” that thousands of Sudanese refugees are now leaving Chad and Sudan, moving north through Libya toward Europe, as aid agencies struggle to provide support. “People are on the move, and Libya is again becoming a main route,” he warned.
The UNHCR has been forced to cut $1.4 billion from its global operations and lay off a third of its staff. The crisis follows drastic reductions in funding from key donors. The United States, under former President Donald Trump, slashed its contribution from $2 billion to just $390 million, while several EU nations—including Germany, France, and Italy—have also cut support.
While European governments are exploring migration deals with African states, Grandi warned that Libya is “not a country we can work with” due to its fractured institutions, weak legal frameworks, and widespread human rights abuses. He added that Tunisia has also suspended the UNHCR’s ability to process asylum applications, raising further concerns.
The European Union has previously explored options to process asylum seekers outside of the bloc, including establishing “return centers” in third countries. Grandi said the UNHCR is open to participating—if strong legal guarantees are in place and responsibility is shared with Europe.
Without immediate funding and political coordination, he warned, more refugees will continue to risk their lives crossing deserts and the Mediterranean Sea.
