More than 114 million people across the world were forced to flee their homes due to “conflict, persecution, and human rights violations,” by the end of September this year, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday.
Overview
According to the agency, the widespread and “alarming” level of displacement was triggered by the “war in Ukraine, conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar, drought, floods, and insecurity in Somalia, as well as a prolonged humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.”
“Globally, far too many conflicts are proliferating or escalating, shattering innocent lives and uprooting people,” Filippo Grandi, Commissioner of the UNHCR, explained.
Grandi added that the international community’s “inability to solve conflicts or prevent new ones” was the driving reason for the rampant displacement. “We must look within, work together to end conflicts and allow refugees and other displaced people to return home or restart their lives,” he stated.
As of June, the number of individuals forcibly displaced worldwide was 110 million, marking a 1.6 million increase from the end of the previous year.
Between June and the end of September, an additional four million are estimated to have been forced to flee their homes, bringing the total to 114 million.
International Community Must Not Give Up
Notably, the UNHCR’s latest estimate does not include the fallout of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which ignited earlier this month, as it fell beyond the report’s scope. However, its inclusion is sure to exacerbate the numbers.
The report further revealed that “low and middle-income countries bore the burden of hosting three-quarters of those in need of international protection.”
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Grandi urged the international community to not give up.
“As we watch events unfold in Gaza, Sudan, and beyond, the prospect of peace and solutions for refugees and other displaced populations might feel distant. But we cannot give up. With our partners, we will keep pushing for – and finding – solutions for refugees,” he said.
114 Million People Displaced Globally Due to Conflict, Human Rights Violations: UNHRC
As of June, the number of individuals forcibly displaced worldwide was 110 million, marking a 1.6 million increase from the end of the previous year.
October 27, 2023
IMAGE SOURCE: REUTERSAround 40,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. (Representative image)