Global refugee population tops 100m for the first time
The number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution has crossed the staggering milestone of 100 million for the first time on record, propelled by the war in Ukraine and other deadly conflicts, the UN Refugee Agency said in a press release.
“One hundred million is a stark figure – sobering and alarming in equal measure. It’s a record that should never have been set,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. “This must serve as a wake-up call to resolve and prevent destructive conflicts, end persecution, and address the underlying causes that force innocent people to flee their homes.”
According to the agency, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide rose towards 90 million by the end of 2021, propelled by new waves of violence or protracted conflict in countries including Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The war in Ukraine has displaced a further 8 million within the country this year, it said, with more than 6 million refugee movements from Ukraine having been registered.
At over 1% of the global population, the overall refugee population is equivalent to the 14th most populous country in the world.
Add Comment