Objectives
News 
50 million people forcibly displaced worldwide
Mariana Andrei - Communication Coordinator
21 July 2014
The United Nations Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) published a report revealing that the number of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons worldwide has exceeded 50 million, for the first time since World War II. This is a record number: 51.2 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2013, six million more than the reported number for 2012. These figures were made public on the World Refugee Day, when the annual UNHCR Global Trends Report was published.
The primary cause of this significant increase is the war in Syria, which at the end of last year had forced 2.5 million individuals to become refugees and 6.5 million people to be internally displaced. That is not the only reason for the refugee population growth: major displacements occurred in Africa as well, mainly in the Central African Republic and - by the end of 2013 - in South Sudan. "We are seeing here the immense costs of not ending wars, of failing to resolve or prevent conflict. (...) The international community has to overcome its differences and find solutions to the conflicts in South Sudan, Syria, Central African Republic and elsewhere. (...) "As many people are forcibly displaced today as the entire populations of medium-to-large countries such as Colombia or Spain, South Africa or South Korea", declared UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.
16.7 million refugees worldwide
According to the Global Trends report, the refugee number reached 16.7 million worldwide, 11.7 million of whom are under UNHCR's care. These are the highest figures since 2001. 50% of the refugees under UNHCR's care (6.3 million) at the end of 2013 had been in exile for more than five years. Asia and the Pacific had an overall refugee population of 3.5 million people. Sub-Saharan Africa had 2.9 million people, while the Middle East and North Africa had 2.6 million. The report reveals that the biggest populations of refugees under UNHCR's care are Afghans, Syrians and Somalis - together accounting for more than half of the global refugee total. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Iran and Lebanon hosted more refugees than other countries. As for refugee children, they represent 50% of the refugee population in 2013.
1.1 million asylum seekers
In addition to refugees the report also mentions asylum seekers. It is known that in 2013 Germany became the largest single recipient of new asylum claims. A total of 1.1 million people submitted asylum applications last year, most of them in developed countries. Moreover, the number of asylum seekers worldwide grew by an estimated 15%, while in industrialised countries there was a 28% increase. A record number of 25,300 asylum applications were from unaccompanied minors. Syrians made 64,300 claims, more than any other nationality, followed by asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (60,400) and Myanmar (57,400).
33.3 million internally displaced persons
Another aspect analysed by Global Trends is internal displacement. Last year 33.3 million people were forced to leave their own homes, while staying in their country of origin. This figure is another record, showing the largest increase of any group presented in the Global Trends report. On the other hand, in 2013, 414,600 refugees returned home. This is the fourth lowest level of refugee returns in 25 years. For more details, click here:
http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/pdf/resources/statistics/global-trends-in-2013.html
Source:
http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/ro/stiri/2014/50-milioane-numar-record-de-persoane-dezradacinate-la-nivel-mondial.html
The primary cause of this significant increase is the war in Syria, which at the end of last year had forced 2.5 million individuals to become refugees and 6.5 million people to be internally displaced. That is not the only reason for the refugee population growth: major displacements occurred in Africa as well, mainly in the Central African Republic and - by the end of 2013 - in South Sudan. "We are seeing here the immense costs of not ending wars, of failing to resolve or prevent conflict. (...) The international community has to overcome its differences and find solutions to the conflicts in South Sudan, Syria, Central African Republic and elsewhere. (...) "As many people are forcibly displaced today as the entire populations of medium-to-large countries such as Colombia or Spain, South Africa or South Korea", declared UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.
16.7 million refugees worldwide
According to the Global Trends report, the refugee number reached 16.7 million worldwide, 11.7 million of whom are under UNHCR's care. These are the highest figures since 2001. 50% of the refugees under UNHCR's care (6.3 million) at the end of 2013 had been in exile for more than five years. Asia and the Pacific had an overall refugee population of 3.5 million people. Sub-Saharan Africa had 2.9 million people, while the Middle East and North Africa had 2.6 million. The report reveals that the biggest populations of refugees under UNHCR's care are Afghans, Syrians and Somalis - together accounting for more than half of the global refugee total. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Iran and Lebanon hosted more refugees than other countries. As for refugee children, they represent 50% of the refugee population in 2013.
1.1 million asylum seekers
In addition to refugees the report also mentions asylum seekers. It is known that in 2013 Germany became the largest single recipient of new asylum claims. A total of 1.1 million people submitted asylum applications last year, most of them in developed countries. Moreover, the number of asylum seekers worldwide grew by an estimated 15%, while in industrialised countries there was a 28% increase. A record number of 25,300 asylum applications were from unaccompanied minors. Syrians made 64,300 claims, more than any other nationality, followed by asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (60,400) and Myanmar (57,400).
33.3 million internally displaced persons
Another aspect analysed by Global Trends is internal displacement. Last year 33.3 million people were forced to leave their own homes, while staying in their country of origin. This figure is another record, showing the largest increase of any group presented in the Global Trends report. On the other hand, in 2013, 414,600 refugees returned home. This is the fourth lowest level of refugee returns in 25 years. For more details, click here:
http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/pdf/resources/statistics/global-trends-in-2013.html
Source:
http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/ro/stiri/2014/50-milioane-numar-record-de-persoane-dezradacinate-la-nivel-mondial.html
Back