Conflict, human rights violations, and persecution have forced 110 million people out of their homes, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The war in Sudan has added nearly 2 million displaced people to this figure since April, joining a series of other global crises.
Filippo Grandi, the head of the U.N. refugee agency, termed this a severe indictment of our world’s state while addressing reporters in Geneva before the 2022 Global Trends Report by UNHCR on Wednesday.
In the previous year, there were 19 million additional displacements, including over 11 million who fled due to Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking the most significant and fastest displacement since the Second World War.
Grandi indicated that they face emergencies regularly, with the agency noting 35 such events last year, three to four times more than in the past. He pointed out that the Sudan conflict received less attention after Western citizens were evacuated.
Crises in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Myanmar also displaced over 1 million people each within their territories in 2022.
Most displaced people have sought refuge within their own countries, with one-third (approximately 35 million) seeking refuge in other nations and being classified as refugees per the UNHCR report. Grandi stated that these refugees are predominantly hosted by Asia and Africa’s low to middle-income countries, not the wealthier countries in Europe or North America.
Turkey is currently the top host of refugees, with 3.8 million people, mainly Syrians fleeing civil war, followed by Iran, hosting 3.4 million, mostly Afghans. There are also 5.7 million Ukrainian refugees dispersed across European countries and beyond. The count of stateless people in 2022 has also risen to 4.4 million, though this is suspected to be an underestimation.
The U.S. recorded the highest number of new asylum applications in 2022, with 730,400 claims. Grandi said it also has the most extensive backlog in its asylum system.
He suggested an urgent need for reform in the asylum system to make it quicker and more efficient.
In response to the rising number of asylum seekers, the U.S., Spain, and Canada have announced plans to establish asylum processing centers in Latin America. This initiative aims to reduce the number of people heading north to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The challenges faced by asylum seekers have also increased. “We witness increasing pushbacks and more stringent immigration or refugee admission rules. In many countries, immigrants and refugees are criminalized, often scapegoating them for diverse issues,” Grandi explained.
Recently, European leaders pledged more financial aid to North African countries to curb Mediterranean migration. Meanwhile, the British government’s controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda continues, despite UNHCR’s opposition. Grandi mentioned some positive developments, such as the ongoing negotiations for a new migration and asylum pact in the European Union.
Grandi also praised the increase in resettled refugees in 2022, which doubled to 114,000 compared to the previous year. However, he acknowledged that this figure is just a tiny fraction of displaced individuals.
In light of the escalating global refugee crisis, world leaders, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations must redouble their efforts to ensure adequate protection and support for displaced individuals. As numbers rise, so does the urgency for effective and sustainable solutions. The world’s nations must work collaboratively to address the root causes of displacement and provide safe, legal routes for those forced to flee their homes. It is a moral and humanitarian imperative that the world stands together to support the millions affected by displacement and seeks an end to the conflicts and crises causing it.
