There were 42.7 million refugees globally at the end of 2024, according to the UN refugee agency. Refugees have left their homes, possessions, and jobs to escape violence or persecution, often after having witnessed or suffered human rights abuses or having lost loved ones in the process. They have little or no control over their lives, and they often arrive in host countries exhausted and ill-equipped to survive. The humanitarian agencies that serve them must address a variety of complex issues to make it possible for refugees to rebuild their lives.
Despite the best efforts of the United Nations and its partners, the number of people displaced by conflict and war is at a twenty-year high. This is due to protracted crises in Syria, South Sudan, and Somalia, as well as the recent conflict in Ukraine, which led to massive displacement within Europe. Meanwhile, renewed conflict in Sudan and the Rohingya crisis prompted significant displacements within Africa.
In addition to the effects of war and persecution, natural disasters – floods, earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes, and landslides – can also force people to flee from their homes. Unlike conflict or persecution, this kind of displacement is not usually addressed in international refugee law.
The solution to the refugee crisis requires us all to do more. We can take personal actions like hiring refugees, donating to refugee aid organisations, and challenging myths about refugees when we hear them. We can also vote for politicians who want to put the needs of refugees at the centre of their policies.