India, June 17 -- The UN refugee agency has announced that it is cutting global staffing costs by around 30 per cent, following a comprehensive review of its activities, spending, staffing and structure, prompted by major funding shortfalls.
This will entail cutting just under half of all senior positions at the agency's Geneva headquarters and regional bureaus.
Around 3,500 permanent staff posts have been discontinued, hundreds of temporary staff positions have been terminated, and some offices have been downsized or closed worldwide.
According to the review report, decisions on where to cut costs were guided by the priority to maintain operations in regions with the most urgent refugee needs.
UNHCR had warned in March that severe fund...