6 October 2025 — Geneva In a powerful address marking his final appearance before stepping down as UN High Commissioner for
Refugee
By Abid
November 10, 2025
UNHCR Chief: “We Are Not Powerless” in the Face of Global Atrocities
By Abid
November 10, 2025
6 October 2025 — Geneva
In a powerful address marking his final appearance before stepping down as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi condemned what he called the “deliberate abandonment of the laws of war” across conflict zones including Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar.
Speaking at UNHCR’s annual executive meeting in Geneva, Grandi rejected the notion that the international community is powerless in the face of today’s atrocities.
“People killed while waiting for food. Civilians massacred in camps. Hospitals and schools destroyed. Aid workers dying in record numbers,” he said. “The daily repetition of atrocities is intended to numb our conscience — to make us feel powerless. But we are not.”
A Global Crisis of Displacement
Grandi highlighted the staggering figure of 122 million people displaced worldwide, nearly double the number from a decade ago. He warned that growing political pressure to restrict asylum and deport refugees risks eroding the principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which guarantees protection for those fleeing persecution and war.
He cautioned against policies — including some in Europe and the United States — that challenge international law:
“UNHCR is here to support governments so that any measures you choose remain lawful,” he said.
A Call for Inclusion and Humanity
The outgoing UNHCR chief also addressed the global funding crisis for humanitarian work, urging a shift toward inclusive, sustainable solutions that empower refugees.
“Inclusion doesn’t work if host countries isolate refugees,” Grandi emphasized. “By opening access to services, jobs, and movement, host nations create economic and social dividends for everyone.”
As Grandi prepares to leave office in December, he reminded world leaders that UNHCR’s mission — to provide refuge and hope — remains as essential today as when it was founded 75 years ago.