Unearmarked funds from Iceland save refugees worldwide
Contributions to UNHCR
Iceland is a reliable donor and partner to UNHCR and has increased its support considerably in recent years. Since 2015, Iceland has donated almost USD 5 million to UNHCR. In 2017, Iceland strengthened its partnership with UNHCR by signing a three-year agreement, including unearmarked funding to UNHCR of a minimum of ISK 50 million per year. This is an important milestone in the relationship between Iceland and UNHCR.
In 2018, Iceland was ranked as the 16th largest donor to UNHCR per capita, and provided USD 752,000 in total to UNHCR, which was almost completely unearmarked. This unearmarked funding is crucial for UNHCR to be able to plan effectively and deliver immediate assistance where it is most needed, including acute emergencies and critically underfunded crises.
From the 2018 allocation, USD 274,000 was allocated flexibly to the Syria Situation, a much needed donation, since conditions for Syrian refugees across the region are increasingly desperate. Iceland is a committed donor to the Syria crisis and in 2016 Iceland donated generously USD 2.4 million to the Syria crisis, Iceland’s highest contribution ever to UNHCR.
In 2019, Iceland has supported the regional Venezuela situation.
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![](https://webarchive.archive.unhcr.org/20200203210854im_/https://www.unhcr.org/neu/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/12/Iceland.jpg)
Activities
Iceland strengthens UNHCR partnership with 3-year agreement on additional support to refugees
On 27 February 2017, Iceland signed a 3-year agreement with UNHCR including additional support to UNHCR of a minimum of 50 million Icelandic Kronur, an important milestone in the partnership between Iceland and UNHCR.
Iceland generously funds UNHCR with USD 2.4 million.
Iceland has increased its support to UNHCR’s response to the Syria crisis considerably, showing great solidarity with refugees and internally displaced people. The USD 2.4 million contribution is the highest ever to UNHCR by Iceland.
Iceland supports UNHCR with ISK 6.5 million for the Syria Crisis
Iceland contributes with US $51,000 to UNHCR to help Syrian refugees during severe winter conditions.
Donor Government Counterparts
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is UNHCR’s Government counterpart on matters related to strategic cooperation and funding.