Emergency Fund

Preparing for the unpredictable

UNHCR responds to a new crisis every 10 days – but you don’t hear about all of them.

We live in an increasingly volatile world. Today new emergencies can occur at an alarming rate, ongoing crises are deepening; all against a backdrop of foreign aid cuts, testing our emergency response to its limit.

In 2025 alone, UNHCR teams provided lifesaving protection and assistance across some of the world’s most challenging crises. We supported families fleeing renewed violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and protected survivors in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Myanmar.

Meanwhile ongoing conflict in Sudan and intensified attacks in Ukraine, drove repeated displacement, increasing the vulnerability of millions already forced from their homes.

While some emergencies spend a few hours, days or weeks in the global headlines, others remain tragically invisible.

The scale of human suffering may feel overwhelming, but there is something very tangible you can do to help.

Through a gift to UK for UNHCR’s Emergency Fund – the most strategic and catalytic type of funding – you can be the engine that helps drive UNHCR’s readiness, rapid deployment and sustained protection so that UNHCR can respond wherever and whenever the needs are greatest.

UNHCR: global leader in emergency response

UNHCR's reach is global

Responding to emergencies for over seven decades, UNHCR operates in over 125 countries with around 90% of the workforce based in the field. With seven strategically located warehouses, UNHCR can launch a large-scale response for 1 million people within just 72 hours.

UNHCR stays on the ground

UNHCR’s response continues long after the TV cameras have moved on. Together, we work to ensure the self-reliance of people forced to flee including their access to education, work and healthcare.

UNHCR leads collaboration

Coordinating with NGOs, UN and government partners to ensure a joined up response.

Workers unload relief kits from the UNHCR truck for distribution to newly arrived Sudanese refugees at the Madjigilta site in Chad’s Ouaddaï region, on the border with Sudan. The kits include a plastic bucket, soap and a jerry can. © UNHCR/Colin Delfosse

The Emergency Fund: play a leading role in saving the lives of people forced to flee

Preparedness determines how quickly life-saving support reaches people forced to flee.

When flexible funding is in place before a crisis escalates, UNHCR can act immediately.
Your gift to UK for UNHCR’s Emergency Fund could enable UNHCR to:

Deploy life-saving relief items

Such as blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and shelter materials from emergency stockpiles, within hours.

Conduct real-time protection monitoring

And rapidly identify those most at risk, including unaccompanied children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Provide immediate cash assistance

So families can meet their most urgent needs with dignity.

Sustain assistance over time

Ensuring that people affected by underreported and underfunded crises continue to receive support.

Remain efficient and adaptable

With the flexibility needed to adapt to changing conditions and evolving humanitarian needs.

Maximising your impact

Here’s just one example of where generous support for UK for UNHCR’s Emergency Fund is helping UNHCR to make an impact.

UNHCR has operated in Lebanon for many years and right now is helping people displaced by renewed conflict in the region which escalated on 28 February.

In moments like these, flexible funding is what turns preparedness into protection and ensures families fleeing sudden violence are not left waiting for help.

With 300 colleagues operational on the ground, UNHCR immediately mobilised a coordinated response in coordination with the Government and local months. With thanks to early, flexible funding, in the first month of our response we were able to:

Utilise pre-positioned emergency stockpiles in Termez, Uzbekistan, to support over 73,000 displaced individuals with essential relief items like such as blankets, solar lamps, kitchen sets and mattresses.
Provide cash assistance to over 3,600 people helping them to meet urgent needs with dignity.
Deliver protection services like psychosocial support and counselling to over 47,000 people.

UNHCR Distribution in Adra Saida Governorate in south Lebanon, UNHCR and partner DPNA distributed core relief items to displaced families in a collective shelter in Saida. UNHCR representative to Lebanon visited the distribution site where she met and listened to displaced people. © UNHCR/Houssam Hariri

We’d love to hear from you

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss how the Emergency Fund can meet your philanthropic goals,
please get in touch by calling 020 8183 0127 or emailing [email protected]

“The Emergency Fund resonated with us because it provides rapid responses during emergencies and enables us to support underserved groups. It aligns with the EA Foundation’s goals and complements our existing portfolio of projects. Contributing to this innovative giving model brings us great satisfaction.” – Richard Bronze, Co-Founder of the EA Foundation.