Number of forcibly displaced 'untenably high' — UN

Time of India

19 hours ago

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The number of forcibly displaced people across the world stood at 122.1 million by the end of April 2025, according to a report by the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR.
The agency on Thursday called the number "untenably high," particularly at a time when aid funding is being heavily reduced.
The figure represents an increase of 2.1 million over the same time last year.
War as a major driver of displacement
According to the UNHCR's annual global trends report, a record 123.2 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced from their homes at the end of 2024 — one in 67 of the global population.
However, that number fell by roughly a million over the first third of the year, largely because many Syrians have been returning home amid hopes of a better future for their war-ravaged country after the ouster of dictator Bashar Assad in December.
The report said the main drivers of displacement remained large conflicts like those in Sudan, Myanmar and Ukraine.
Sharp rise in internally displaced
According to the report, Sudan has become the country with the most forcibly displaced people, with 14.3 million refugees and people who have been driven from their homes but remained in the country.
Syria still accounts for 13.5 million forcibly displaced, followed by Afghanistan (10.3 million) and Ukraine (8.8 million).
The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) grew sharply by 6.3 million to reach 73.5 million by the end of 2024, meaning that 60% of those forced to flee their homes never leave their own country.
The report found that 67% of refugees stay in neighbouring countries, with three-quarters of refugees being taken in by low and middle-income nations. This runs counter to the widespread perception in many wealthier nations that they are the main refugee destinations, the agency said.
The largest refugee populations are currently in Iran (3.5 million), Turkey (2.9 million), Colombia (2.8 million), Germany (2.7 million) and Uganda (1.8 million).
Many displaced returning home
"We are living in a time of intense volatility in international relations, with modern warfare creating a fragile, harrowing landscape marked by acute human suffering. We must redouble our efforts to search for peace and find long-lasting solutions for refugees and others forced to flee their homes," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said,
While highlighting the fact that several countries are reducing their funding to his agency, Grandi said there had also been some positive trends recently.
"Even amid the devastating cuts, we have seen some rays of hope over the last six months," Grandi added. "Nearly 2 million Syrians have been able to return home after over a decade uprooted. The country remains fragile, and people need our help to rebuild their lives again."
In total, 9.8 million forcibly displaced people returned home in 2024, including 1.6 million refugees — the most in more than 20 years — and 8.2 million IDPs the second-highest number ever.
Many of those returning, however, have gone back to countries that are still unstable politically or highly insecure, such as Afghans who were forced to return home in 2024.
Countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and South Sudan saw major new forced displacements even as some refugees and IDPs returned home.
Funding shortfalls
Despite the rising number of refugees across the world, the UNHCR is struggling to raise the funds needed to cope with the ongoing crisis.
While the agency did not identify which donors have reduced funding, the drastic cuts in foreign humanitarian assistance made by the US — historically the largest provider of funds to the UNHCR — under President Donald Trump will have hit hard.
Britain and other European countries are also spending less on aid in favour of increased military spending.
The report calls on the international community to continue funding UNHCR programs, saying such assistance is an essential investment in regional and global security.