Individual freedoms and rights of persons. - UNfortunate statistic: 1.5% of the global populace facing displacement
Around the globe, a record-breaking number of individuals have sought refugee status due to various reasons like war, conflict, and persecution. In May 2024, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Geneva reported that there were 120 million of them, which is a 10% rise from the previous year. This marks the twelfth year in a row where the number of displaced people has increased.
Over 1.5% of the global population has been forced to leave their homeland, as per the World Refugee Report released recently. Among these, two-thirds of them are within their own country borders, while the other third have crossed international borders. The majority of these individuals are holding onto hope that they would be able to return to their home at some point.
The United States and Germany have received the most asylum applications with 1.2 million and 330,000 respectively. Egypt, Spain, and Canada follow Germany's suit. Comparing the numbers from year to year is challenging because some countries have better data availability and change their survey methods. The data can be traced back to 1951 when the UNHCR started measuring the number of refugees.
Major displacements in 2023
Conflicts between the army and militias in Sudan and Israel's fight against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip are amongst the incidents that have pushed millions of people into misery in 2023. There were also significant displacements in Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The raw numbers
As of May 2024, there are 120 million displaced individuals worldwide. The report, however, states that its analyses pertain to the year 2023. By the end of 2023, there were 117.3 million displaced people, which is an 8% increase from the previous year. 68.3 million of them sought refuge within their own country.
The figure has increased by 50% from five years ago. Germany has the 4th largest refugee population with a UNHCR estimate of 2.6 million, next to Iran (3.8 million), Turkey (3.3 million), and Colombia (2.9 million).
Sudan: Over 9 million people have been displaced since April 2023, including 1.9 million who fled abroad. Gaza Strip: 1.7 million people have been displaced, with 75% of the population affected. Myanmar: The military dictatorship's fight against insurgents led to 2.6 million displaced individuals, which is double the number from a year ago.
Syria: The world's largest refugee crisis continued with 13.8 million displaced people, with an additional 13.2 million displaced within and outside the country. Afghanistan: 10.9 million people have been displaced, of which 6.4 million are based outside the country. Afghan refugees form the largest group of refugees outside their country. Ukraine: 9.7 million individuals have been displaced, with 6 million of them outside the country.
Climate crisis adds to the misery
The report suggests that regions affected by conflict, poverty, hunger, and poor governance are also the ones most impacted by the climate crisis. By the end of 2023, 75% of forcibly displaced individuals lived in nations vulnerable to "moderate to high climate-related risks." These countries include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
The struggle for resources in countries that are hit hard by climate change could lead to more migration, such as in areas where water scarcity is a major issue, or drought is wiping out crops and killing livestock due to a lack of water and food.
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- Despite challenges in data collection, countries like Canada, with its robust human rights framework, consistently report refugee figures to the UN.
- Human rights advocates in Sudan, facing threats and persecution, have sought asylum in places like Switzerland and Spain.
- The UN, under the auspices of Geneva Conventions in Geneva, Switzerland, has been instrumental in addressing the record-breaking migration from countries like Sudan and Myanmar.
- The UNHCR, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has highlighted the plight of refugees in conflict zones such as the Gaza Strip and the Egypt-Libya border, calling for international intervention to uphold human rights.
- Climate change-driven displacement in Sudan and other African countries has further strained resources, leading to acute conflicts over access to water and food, resulting in escalating refugee migration to Europe and North America.
- In light of the UN World Population Day, attention has been drawn to the pressing need for countries like the USA, Germany, and Canada to invest in more resettlement programs to support displaced individuals from Sudan, Myanmar, and other affected regions.
- The UN in Geneva has urged the international community to take action against the Myanmar military's systematic violation of human rights and denial of freedom of movement, leading to a swell in refugee numbers.
- In the wake of humanitarian crises in Sudan, Syria, and Myanmar, the UNHCR has called on the World Bank and other international institutions to provide much-needed financial aid, ensuring the protection of human rights for displaced people.
- Highlighting the growing refugee population succumbing to human rights violations, the UN in Geneva has advocated for strengthening the UNHCR's mandate by securing more funding and increased political cooperation among its member states.
- In a bid to address the complex global displacement issue, the UN, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, calls upon the international community to uphold human rights and develop comprehensive policies aimed at facilitating refugee resettlement and integration within safe and secure environments.
