People are displaced globally in record numbers due to war, persecution, natural disaster, and climate change. The vast majority of those displaced need international protection. This is a human rights crisis that demands immediate action.
In 2021, the world reached a new peak in displacement, with more than 89 million people displaced across borders. Today, the world has a broken refugee system. Barbed wire fences and chronic underfunding limit the ability of countries to protect those displaced from violence.
Most refugees flee because they have no other choice. They flee for their lives, not just their homes. They need shelter, food, water, education, and health care. But they also need a chance to rebuild their lives. They need to return home, or to a new place where they can build a future.
Refugees can cause problems in the host country, if their presence exacerbates societal tensions and leads to conflict. This is more likely if host states are struggling to meet the basic needs of their citizens, and when refugee populations share ethnic or religious characteristics with those in conflict. Refugees can also become targets for exploitation by traffickers who exploit them for financial gain.
Governments need to invest in the integration of displaced people into their societies. This is challenging and takes time, but it also gives them a better chance to live peacefully in their new homes and contribute socially and economically. All countries must investigate and prosecute trafficking gangs that take advantage of vulnerable people, and put refugees’ safety above all else. Finally, all governments must fight all forms of xenophobia and racism, which sow fear of foreigners and increase the chances for violence.
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