WHO and UNHCR Expand Health Access for Displaced People
A May 21, 2020 agreement updates a 1997 partnership to bolster public health protections for the forcibly displaced.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in COVID-19
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On May 21, 2020, the World Health Organization and UNHCR signed a new agreement to expand public health services for the estimated 70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. The collaboration aims to integrate refugees and displaced populations into the national health plans of host countries during the pandemic.
Why it matters
This partnership addresses the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations, as 80 percent of the world's 26 million refugees reside in low- and middle-income nations. By sharing resources, the organizations strive to improve medical supplies and isolation capacity for those fleeing their homes.
The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has raised $214 million since March 13, 2020, disbursing over $100 million in total. Of these disbursements, $10 million has been allocated specifically to support UNHCR operations.
The players
World Health Organization
The specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is an agency mandated to protect and support refugees.
The details
The organizations work together to facilitate risk communication and provide essential medical supplies to aid in curbing the spread of infectious diseases. This initiative strengthens the existing collaboration between the two groups that has existed for more than two decades.
Timeline
1997: Original partnership agreement established between the organizations.
March 13, 2020: Launch of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
May 21, 2020: Signing of the updated cooperation agreement.
Health Landscape
This agreement reflects a broader effort to modernize international aid structures in response to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which serves as a central vehicle for global health financing. It highlights the shift toward integrating humanitarian aid into the public health systems of host nations to better manage transboundary disease risks.
The initiative aims to ensure that displaced persons have access to essential health services and inclusion in host country national health plans. This reduces the risk of community transmission by ensuring that isolation and medical treatment are available to all populations within a region.
The takeaway
Global health initiatives succeed when aid agencies and specialized health organizations coordinate their specific logistical strengths. Protecting displaced populations is a critical component of maintaining international health security for all citizens.
Further reading
For more information on the global response to the pandemic, visit COVID-19.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Who.
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