UNHCR calls for concerted action as forced displacement hits new high of 110 million

The agency’s flagship annual report, Global Trends in Forced Displacement 2022, found that by the end of 2022, the number of people displaced by war, persecution, violence, and human rights abuses stood at a record 108.4 million, up 19.1 million on the previous year - which was also a record increase.

The figure today, is approximately 110 million, taking into the account the Sudan displacement crisis which is still seeing thousands flee each week due to ongoing violence between the army and rival militia.

“These figures show us that some people are far too quick to rush to conflict, and way too slow to find solutions. The consequence is devastation, displacement, and anguish for each of the millions of people forcibly uprooted from their homes,” High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said.

Of the global total, 35.3 million were refugees, people who crossed an international
border to find safety, while a greater share, 58 per cent, representing 62.5 million
people – were internally displaced due to conflict and violence.

Global crises
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the top driver of displacement in 2022. The number of refugees soared from 27,300 at the end of 2021, to 5.7 million at the end of 2022 – representing the fastest outflow of refugees anywhere since World War Two.

Estimates for the number of refugees from Afghanistan were sharply higher by the year’s end, due to revised estimates of Afghans hosted in Iran, many having arrived in previous years.

Similarly, the report reflected upward revisions by Colombia and Peru of the numbers of Venezuelans, mostly categorized as “other people in need of international protection,” hosted in those countries.

Urgent funding for host countries
The figures also show it remains the world’s low and middle-income countries, not wealthy states that host most displaced people.

The 46 least developed nations, account for less than 1.3 per cent of global gross domestic product, yet they hosted more than 20 per cent of all refugees, UNHCR said.

Funding for displacement and to support hosts, remained inadequate for 2022 and the same applies so far this year, the agency added.