Staying and delivering together: How donor support helped save refugee lives this year

2020 was a year like no other. From the global pandemic to massive wildfires and nationwide protests over racial justice, the series of world-shifting events that happened over the course of the past months have undoubtedly had an impact on each and every one of us.

But for those forced to flee conflict, persecution and environmental disasters, this year has been particularly hard. Border closures made it harder for people to make their way to safety, many lost their livelihoods and almost two million refugee children lost access to school due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Despite these enormous challenges, 2020 was also a year of remarkable resilience and solidarity. Numerous host communities included refugees into their responses to the pandemic; refugees around the world joined the frontlines to protect their communities from the virus and the commitment and generosity of USA for UNHCR’s donors and staff made it possible to stay and deliver aid to vulnerable refugee families in their hour of greatest need. 

As we close this year, let’s take a look at some examples from the field of how your support made a life-changing difference in the lives of those forced to flee.

YEMEN: CASH ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCY KITS

“2020 will remain a year of worries for me. I worried about families displaced by the conflict and refugees in Yemen, wondering how they will be able to go through the coronavirus pandemic. But all those worries were worth it. Thanks to supporters like you, we stayed and delivered and it made a difference in the lives of people we serve,” says Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR Representative in Yemen.

In 2020, Yemen remained the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 24 million people remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Food insecurity increased, especially for displaced people, and the threat of famine looms. Thanks to donor support more than 900,000 displaced Yemenis received cash assistance to tackle malnutrition and meet their most urgent needs.

KENYA: EDUCATION AND ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DADAAB AND KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMPS

“The hardest moment we faced this year was of course losing lives and at the same time ensuring maintenance of essential health services. The contributions of USA for UNHCR’s donors saved lives,” explains Dr. Sofia Mohammed Ahmed, Public Health Officer in Dadaab.

There are almost half a million refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya, more than 80 percent live in overcrowded camps where COVID-19 poses significant challenges. Thanks to the contributions of USA for UNHCR donors, reusable masks and other protective COVID equipment were distributed to vulnerable refugee families in the region and more than 5,000 radios were procured to broadcast lessons for more than 75,000 students in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps.

COLOMBIA: SHELTER AND REGISTRATION SERVICES

FOR VENEZUELANS

“This pandemic affected everyone. It affected me, you, our families, our neighbors, our communities. But it has affected refugees and displaced populations a lot more,” says Catia Lopes, UNHCR’s Head of Sub-Office in La Guajira.

To date, more than 5.4 million Venezuelans have been displaced across borders to escape the country’s ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis – and 1.8 million of them have found refuge in neighboring Colombia. This year, thanks to the generosity of USA for UNHCR’s donors, displaced Venezuelans received food, medicine and shelter and approximately 52,000 Venezuelans were registered in Colombia to ensure they could access critical health services during the pandemic.

“To everyone who donated to UNHCR this year, I would like to thank you dearly. Your support allowed us to stay in the field, to protect refugees, to deliver our services, to support local communities, everything while contributing to containing the coronavirus.”

HOW TO HELP REFUGEES IN 2021:

As we turn the page of 2020, you can still help us deliver protection and assistance to refugees. Becoming a monthly donor is the most effective and efficient way to help the world's most vulnerable people. Your gift can mean a lifetime difference for millions of refugee families who are struggling to survive during the pandemic.