The UN refugee agency has launched an urgent appeal for funds, saying it is so short of money it will have to halt some of its worldwide aid programmes unless it receives immediate help.

The head of the UNHCR, Ruud Lubbers, said the organisation needed $80m to fund its work to the end of the year.

These cuts have been extremely painful and have affected refugees and our work on their behalf around the world

Ruud Lubbers, UNHCR

The agency's spending has increased during 2002, primarily because of the huge needs in Afghanistan.

But while the Afghanistan programme is not in danger, other operations - particularly in Africa - may be affected by the cash shortfall.

Mr Lubbers said the agency had already been forced to cut its budget twice this year, by over $92m.

The UNHCR cares for nearly 20 million refugees in 114 countries.

The United States is the UNHCR's largest donor, contributing a total of $255 million this year to all programmes, followed by Japan at $104 million and the Netherlands at $55 million.

Affected projects

UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said the agency would have to cut back on various operations throughout the world.

He said the affected programmes included education and agricultural projects for Eritrean refugees, plans to improve security in Tanzanian camps, and relocation projects for refugees in dangerous border regions in Thailand and Papua New Guinea.

Some programmes to help Kosovan refugees may be affected

In Europe, programmes in danger include the supply of children's winter clothing in the Caucasus, shelter for returning refugees in Chechnya and aid to returnees in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Mr Redmond also said that because of the unpredictable funding situation, field staff were unable to plan projects properly.

This "hand-to mouth" situation has led to frustration among staff and left the UNHCR with little cushion to deal with new emergencies, Mr Redmond said.

Afghan crisis

The UNHCR boosted spending on Afghanistan this year to help some 1.7 million people return home and rebuild their lives.

The $217m needed for the Afghan refugees was meant to come from a special emergency appeal, but Mr Redmond said the agency had been forced to turn to its general budget for some of the money it needed, to the detriment of other regions.

The Afghan crisis affected the UNHCR's budget

In a statement, Mr Lubbers said: "These cuts have been extremely painful and have affected refugees and our work on their behalf around the world."

"Amid growing needs, UNHCR is struggling to meet the minimum requirements of millions of refugees".

But he said the most pressing needs were in Africa.

"We have numerous protracted refugee situations there that are largely forgotten by the international community, as well as several new crises in West Africa, the Great Lakes and the East and Horn," he said.

He said many of these programmes were already struggling due to previous cutbacks.