A Sea of Uncertainty
A Sea of Uncertainty
Understanding the Global Refugee Crisis
Millions of people around the world are currently displaced, seeking refuge from violence, persecution, and devastating circumstances in their home countries. As of 2022, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that 108.4 million individuals have been forcibly displaced, a staggering number highlighting the immense scale of the global refugee crisis. Of that number around 26 million are classed as refugees. But why are so many people fleeing their homes, and does the problem seem bigger today than ever before?
According to UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees), a refugee is a person 'who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside of his or her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear unwilling, to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country'. Of the current 26 million refugees worldwide, around 60% is made up of three main groups: 2.7 million Afghan refugees (of probably 4.6 million Afghans live outside their country), mostly in Iran and Pakistan; 6.7 million Syrians and 2.3 million from South Sudan. There are a further 5.5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Israeli-controlled Gaza Strip and West Bank. Some Palestinian refugees have been living in camps for 70 years that are now semi-permanent settlements. Around 80% of refugees live in countries neighbouring their own country of origin. In 2020 the countries hosting the most refugees were, Turkey 3.7m, Pakistan 1.4m, Uganda 1.2m, Sudan 1.1m and Germany 1.1m. In 2018 341,800 people applied for asylum, the greatest number from Venezuela.
The very large numbers of refugees in the developing world have led to the developed countries adopting more restrictive definitions of who is and who isn't a refugee to restrict the numbers trying to enter these countries. This has meant that refugees have to compete for resettlement with all other categories of would-be migrants. The burden of housing refugees is being borne, in the main, by the developing countries while the developed countries tighten restrictions on migration.
Europe, which experienced large refugee movements after the Second World War, had only 55,000 refugees in 1988. The migrants from East to West Germany in 1989-90 were not considered to be refugees. Many of the post-war refugees have integrated into their host society, given up their original nationality and are therefore no longer considered to be refugees.
The wars in Afghanistan (1978 onwards) with the consequent bombing and mining of rural settlements caused about 6 million Afghans to flee as refugees to Iran (3.5 million) and Pakistan (2.5 million). Most of these refugees are women and children accompanied by elderly men and the wounded. Many refugees have been able to integrate into Iranian society and have dispersed throughout the country. In Pakistan, most refugees end up in refugee camps and despite an agreement Between Afghanistan and Pakistan, there has been no major repatriation.
The refugee Cris in Africa:
The number of refugees in Africa has risen sharply since the 1970s to a current estimate of 6.3 million, but this number only accounts for those displaced from their home country. Many others have been displaced from their homes by war and famine but are not technically classified as refugees because they have not crossed national boundaries (Internally displaced persons - IDP’s currently around 17,647,113). The large numbers of semi-nomadic migrants in Africa make the task of accurately calculating the refugee numbers very difficult.
Some refugees have been able to return home in a relatively short space of time: 276,896 South Sudanese returned between November 2017 and February 2020, although this is out of a total refugee exodus of 2,239,365. Of 400,000 Burundian refugees in 2017 some have returned to their native country, between September 2017 and November 2019, 79,720 Burundian refugees were repatriated from surrounding countries. By the end of 2020, it is expected the Burundian refugee population in neighbouring countries will reduce to around 175,000. The deterioration of security in North-East Nigeria with widespread violence and withdrawal of the Nigerian security forces forced nearly 3 million people to abandon their homes and around 300,000 to become refugees in Chad, Cameroon and Niger. The large numbers of refugees in sub-Saharan Africa have exacerbated the shortages of water and firewood in this marginal environment, causing severe ecological damage.
Reasons for Displacement:
Refugees are forced to leave their homes due to a complex interplay of factors, often facing multiple threats simultaneously. The most common reasons include:
Armed conflict and war: This remains the primary driver of forced displacement, with ongoing conflicts in places like Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia generating millions of refugees. (UNHCR, 2023)
Persecution: Individuals fleeing discriminatory treatment or violence based on their ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, or other factors fall under this category. Myanmar's Rohingya population is a tragic example. (Amnesty International, 2023)
Natural disasters and climate change: Extreme weather events and environmental degradation are increasingly displacing people, blurring the lines between refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Pacific Island nations are at the forefront of this challenge. (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 2023)
Human rights violations: Individuals escaping torture, imprisonment, or other abuses by their own governments fall into this category. The ongoing political unrest in Venezuela has led to widespread human rights violations, driving displacement. (Human Rights Watch, 2023)
Are there more refugees today?
While the raw numbers of displaced people seem higher than ever, it's important to consider some critical factors:
Improved data collection: Today, we have better tracking mechanisms and wider media coverage, making the crisis more visible.
Protracted conflicts: Many conflicts drag on for years, leading to sustained displacement. The Syrian war, for example, has displaced millions for over a decade.
Limited solutions: Finding durable solutions for refugees like resettlement or safe return is often slow and challenging, leading to prolonged displacement.
However, it's also true that new threats are emerging:
Climate change: Its impact on displacement is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades, creating "climate refugees."
Resource scarcity: Competition for dwindling resources like water and land can trigger conflict and displacement.
Erosion of international cooperation: Weakening refugee protection frameworks and restrictive asylum policies in some countries make finding refuge more difficult.
Moving forward:
Addressing the global refugee crisis requires a multifaceted approach:
Resolving conflicts: Diplomatic efforts and international cooperation are crucial to ending ongoing wars and creating conditions for safe return.
Addressing climate change: Mitigating its impact and supporting vulnerable communities will be essential to prevent climate-induced displacement.
Strengthening refugee protection: Upholding international refugee law and ensuring fair and efficient asylum processes are critical.
Promoting durable solutions: Supporting refugees' return to their homes when it's safe, or facilitating resettlement in third countries, are crucial for long-term solutions.
The refugee crisis is a complex and evolving challenge, but by understanding the root causes, acknowledging the growing complexities, and taking collective action, we can work towards a future where everyone has the right to live in safety and dignity.
References:
Amnesty International. (2023, January 31). Myanmar.
Human Rights Watch. (2023, January 19). Venezuela.
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. (2023, August 16). Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2023, June 20). Global Trends 2022.