The global refugee crisis continues to worsen, with an estimated 76 million people around the world currently displaced from their homes. These individuals have lost everything – their homes, livelihoods, communities, and in some cases, even their legal identities. This staggering figure includes both refugees who have crossed international borders and internally displaced people (IDPs) who have not.
While some refugees are able to return home relatively quickly, millions of IDPs find themselves trapped in long-term displacement for five to ten years or even longer. This protracted displacement is often the result of conflicts and wars that have torn communities apart. In addition to conflict, natural disasters such as floods, storms, earthquakes, and wildfires also contribute to the displacement crisis, forcing millions of people to flee their homes.
According to the most recent figures gathered by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), 68.3 million people remain internally displaced due to conflict and violence. Sudan has the largest internally displaced population ever reported, with an estimated 9.1 million people displaced within the country. Other countries with significant numbers of IDPs include Syria (7.2 million) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (6.7 million).
In regions like war-torn Gaza, more than eight in 10 people have been displaced, totaling 1.9 million civilians. Haiti has also seen record levels of displacement, with 600,000 people forced to leave their homes, double the number from the previous year. In Myanmar, civil strife has left the majority of the three million IDPs without proper shelter, food, or water.
Human rights abuses play a significant role in driving displacement, as noted by independent UN expert Paula Betancur. Lack of accountability for these abuses further exacerbates the crisis, leading to even greater numbers of displaced individuals. Ms. Betancur called on the Human Rights Council to acknowledge the individual stories of loss, resilience, and hope behind the record numbers of displaced people.
Despite the efforts of humanitarian teams to assist as many as 50 million IDPs last year, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Protection Andrew Gilmour emphasized the need for more sustainable solutions to address the root causes of displacement. The Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement aims to break the cycle of long-term displacement and create durable solutions to prevent new crises from emerging.
The Action Agenda outlines 31 concrete commitments and has garnered support from 22 different UN agencies. Mr. Gilmour also called on Member States to establish an intergovernmental forum to address the issue of displacement in a more comprehensive manner, rather than relying solely on the efforts of organizations like the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In conclusion, the global displacement crisis is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a coordinated and sustained effort from the international community. By addressing the root causes of displacement, holding perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, and providing effective protection and assistance to those in need, we can work towards creating a more stable and secure future for all displaced individuals around the world.
