Country: Curaçao (The Netherlands) Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees WILLEMSTAD – Due to global funding constraints, UNHCR will close the National Office in Aruba on 31 August 2025 due to the organization’s current financial constraints. Support for Curaçao, previously coordinated by that office, will be managed by UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office in Panama.During a recent mission to Curaçao, José Egas, UNHCR Representative for Belize, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Central and Southern Caribbean, met with government officials, refugees, civil society organizations and key implementing and strategic partners, including Fundashon Salú pa Tur, Human Rights Defense Curaçao, and Fundación Venex Curaçao. The visit aimed to strengthen advocacy efforts and explore strategies to enhance refugee protection in the country.“The closure of our Aruba office, which also extended support to Curaçao, reflects the difficult choices we must make in response to global funding limitations,” said Egas. “We will continue coordinating with partners and the Government to ensure that protection and support remain accessible to those who need it most.”Since initiating activities in Curaçao in 2018, UNHCR has collaborated closely with the Government, civil society, and UN partners to support access to protection for those in need. Between 2022 and today, more than 7,000 individuals have received information and counselling on protection mechanisms, legal assistance, healthcare, and direct aid, particularly for vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied children and survivors of violence, including women and girls.As part of this transition, UNHCR will continue to support its NGO partners in Curaçao in delivering essential services, advocating for the protection of forcibly displaced individuals. Two outposted personnel based in Aruba will remain engaged with key stakeholders and ensure support to forcibly displaced populations in Aruba, Curaçao and other Dutch speaking countries.UNHCR calls for sustained and flexible funding to meet growing humanitarian needs and ensure that people forced to flee are not left behind.For more information or assistance, please contact: aruor@unhcr.org.