MANILA, Philippines – The number of displaced people in the world has risen to a new record high due to war, persecution, and violence, according to the latest report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The UN Refugee Agency’s Global Trends report says there were 65.6 million people forcibly displaced worldwide at the end of 2016 – some 300,000 more than the previous year. The total number represents the enormous population in need of protection by international agencies and states, according to the UNHCR.
Of this number, 22.5 million are refugees – those forced to leave their country; 40.3 million are displaced persons or those who find temporary shelter within the same country; and 2.8 million are asylum seekers – people who have fled their country and are seeing international protection as refugees.
“By any measure this is an unacceptable number, and it speaks louder than ever to the need for solidarity and common purpose in preventing and resolving crises, and ensuring together that the world’s refugees, internally displaced and asylum seekers are properly protected and cared for while solutions are pursued,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
Protecting refugees from persecution, violence, and sickness adds to the immense human cost of war and conflict globally. But the UN Refugee Agency says this should not deter governments from taking concrete action today.
“We have to do better for these people. For a world in conflict, what is needed is determination and courage, not fear,” added Grandi. (READ: More solidarity with refugees needed as forced displacement rises)
Global conflict
The conflict in Syria has produced the largest number of refugees at 5.5 million and displaced people overall at 12 million people. The civil war, compounded by the battle to defeat the ISIS group, has devastated cities and left millions of Syrians vulnerable and without homes.
Children, who make up half the world’s refugees, continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the suffering, mainly because of their greater vulnerability. Tragically, 75,000 asylum claims were received from children travelling alone or separated from their parents. The report says even this number is likely to underestimate the true figure.
UNHCR produces its Global Trends report annually ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20. – Rappler.com
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, encourages Filipinos to stand in solidarity#WithRefugees and with families torn apart by war, conflict and violence. To learn more how you can help, please visit: http://donate.unhcr.ph/refugees.