Refugees International Welcomes Barham Salih as New UN Refugee Chief

Statement from Refugees International: 

“Refugees International welcomes the appointment of Barham Salih as the new UN High Commissioner for Refugees. He arrives amid profound and growing erosion of global support for refugee protection, humanitarian assistance, and access to asylum. But he also arrives as a burgeoning movement toward refugee leadership is reshaping the refugee landscape in powerful directions.

His appointment is historic: having fled persecution in Iraq earlier in his life, Salih brings personal experience of forced displacement to the helm of the UN Refugee Agency. Having also served as a head of state in a country facing conflict and displacement, he knows how governments navigate the challenges of displacement crises. He understands that displacement is not an abstract policy challenge, but a human reality that shapes lives, families, and futures. The years ahead hold major challenges and opportunities for UNHCR. The new High Commissioner will need to uphold the Refugee Convention as some states seek to weaken it; work with refugee leaders to put their voices and expertise at the center of UNHCR’s decision-making; transform refugee support away from traditional aid dependency and toward refugee rights and self-reliance; and navigate a historic sector-wide budget crisis. 

Refugees International looks forward to working with High Commissioner Salih to navigate these complex challenges, to pioneer and champion bold new approaches, and to put refugee perspectives at the forefront.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Etant Dupain at edupain@refugeesinternational.org.