UNHCR Canada’s Representative Tracey Maulfair appears before the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR).
On December 8, 2025, UNHCR Canada Representative Tracey Maulfair was invited to appear before the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR). Below are her opening remarks. The full meeting is available at this link.
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Good afternoon.
My name is Tracey Maulfair and I am the representative for the Canadian office of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
I’d like to begin by thanking you for your focus on the causes of displacement across the world and solutions, particularly at the current time when discussions on these issues are far too few and divisions are far too many.
UNHCR works in more than 130 countries to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people and help them to find solutions.
At the current moment, there are more than 117 million people who have been forced to flee due to war, conflict and persecution worldwide.
This is an almost incomprehensible figure – to put it into perspective, it is the same as the entire population of the Philippines. And it is a figure that, for the first time in a decade, actually decreased in 2025.
One year ago, we saw the fall of the Asaad regime in Syria. Since then, one million people living as refugees have returned home from abroad and a further two million people displaced within the country have moved back to their communities to restart their lives.
Yet Syria remains a country shattered by war. Hope is fragile. For families to return, they will need safety, a way to earn an income, schools for their children – the things we take for granted here.
But there is an important point to underline: when safe, return is the preferred option of most refugees. Finding peaceful solutions to conflict will always be the best way to ease the displacement challenges we are facing and stop people from moving.
Unfortunately, Syria remains a bright spot amidst an increasingly dire global humanitarian situation.
As war and violence continues to drive displacement, cuts to lifesaving aid are making everything worse.
Consider what’s happening right now in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
Today, it is the largest displacement crisis in the world. More than 12 million people have been forced to flee. Over 4 million people are living in neighbouring countries as refugees.
Recently, Al Fasher city in the Darfur region, faced 500 days under siege before falling to the Rapid Support Forces in recent weeks, which triggered a wave of brutal violence.
Neighbouring countries like Chad have generously opened their borders and offered safety to those forced to flee. But the services available are not able to meet the needs – many of those arriving are deeply traumatized and not even basic assistance, such as food, water and a roof over their heads, is available let alone health and psychosocial support services for women and girls who have endured unspeakable violence.
This situation is not unique to Chad.
Humanitarian workers are doing what we can, but we are stretched thin across the world.
In the past year, UNHCR’s global budget fell by roughly 25%. This has forced us to make extremely difficult choices and end critical lifesaving programs.
This year, due to funding shortfalls, 11.6 million people will not get the help they need – education, health services and community support.
When people are left without lifesaving aid or opportunities, the risk they face multiplies.
This means more children recruited into armed groups. Sexual exploitation. Human smuggling. Attempting dangerous journeys across deserts, jungles or deadly seas.
When displacement spreads, it weakens fragile states. Left unchecked, these crises spill across borders, drive migration and disrupt trade and investment opportunities.
The solution is not to point blame at those seeking safety.
Rater, the more assistance which front-line refugee-hosting countries receive, the better they are able to host refugees, reducing the likelihood of dangerous onward movements.
Investing in humanitarian aid is a practical, cost-effective contribution to regional and global stability. Canada’s support of UNHCR makes a measurable difference, enabling us to deliver frontline, life-saving support and solutions where few others can.
For decades through successive governments, we have relied on Canada for leadership and support in helping refugees worldwide.
Your country sets an important example and serves as a model for other nations.
As you consider the challenges of displacement in this difficult moment, we need Canada to continue to be an advocate for peace.
It is also imperative this committee recognizes the vital role of humanitarian funding to provide safety for people forced to flee, prevent further displacement, and support people to go back home when they’re ready. Thank you.