REFUGEES & Migrants

➡️ REFUGEES & MIGRANTS – A Global Humanitarian Crisis Affecting 117 Million People

A refugee is a person forced to flee their home country due to violence, conflict, poverty, persecution, or natural disaster. The vast majority of refugees come from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela and South Sudan. Devestatingly, children make up 40% of all refugees, a staggering 47.2 million.

Refugees are unable to return home, and so need specific legal protections to ensure their well-being and dignity are safeguarded. Migrants leave their homes in search of a better quality of life by finding work, education, or to be reunited with their families. They are able to return home safely, and do not receive the same protections as refugees and asylum seekers.

"It is time to take a more comprehensive look at the various dimensions of the migration issue, which now involves hundreds of millions of people, and affects countries of origin, transit and destination. We need to understand better the causes of international flows of people and their complex interrelationship with development." - Kofi Annan

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ Refugees & Migrants

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Organisations Supporting Refugees & Migrants

• Asylum, Detention & Undocumented Migrants

• Internally Displaced Persons

• The European Refugee Crisis & Greek Islands

• The U.S.-Mexico Border

• North African Refugees

• Refugees from Syria, Ukraine & Palestine

• Climate Refugees

• Refugee & Migrant Children

• Women Migrants

• Migrant Workers

• Refugees & International Development

• The Integration of Foreign Citizens

• The Importance of Remittances

Refugees are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. It is our collective responsibility to uphold the rights and dignity of all those who are seeking safety and freedom for themselves and their families.

The UN Global Compact on Refugees was established in 2018 by the UNHCR to promote international cooperation and a sustainable solution to the challenges related to unprecedented levels of refugees. It aims to strengthen responsibility sharing, assist host communities, and improve refugee self-reliance.

Better World Info supports awareness days such as World Refugee Day and International Migrants Day, which honour the courage and resilience of refugees worldwide, raise awareness of their daily plight, and support their journeys and integration.

For up-to-the-minute news and critical comment, follow our curated Twitter/X list on refugees, where you will find human rights experts, NGOs, migrant portals, refugee specialists, search and rescue operators and much more.

German speakers can head to our partner site Bessere Welt Info and the category Flüchtling, where you will find 3,000 links on the topic from a European perspective.

Why Are There More Refugees Now Than Ever Before?

The number of refugees has doubled over the past decade, surpassing the 100 million mark for the first time in 2022. Estimates suggest that one billion people could be at risk of displacement by 2050.

Man-made factors are driving this worrying trend, with environmental change, conflict, and civil unrest as the predominant causes.

Climate change has increased the frequency of weather-related disasters fivefold in the last 50 years. The 2022 Pakistan floods resulted in the displacement of 7.9 million people, the deaths of 1,700 people, and a financial cost of $14.9 billion.

There are now 250 million climate refugees worldwide. Flooding, droughts, desertification, heatwaves, and sea-level rise are reducing the quality of life, agricultural output, and income, which leads to extreme poverty, hunger and famine. With 78% of people in developing countries relying on agriculture to survive, they are both the most severely affected by the climate crisis and the least able to adapt.

Conflict is a massive driver of displacement. An estimated 2 billion people are currently living in areas with violent conflict - the equivalent of one quarter of the human population. The world is currently experiencing the highest number of conflicts since 1945, many of them in the poorest regions of Africa.

During war, civilians are always the first to lose. They are left surrounded by violence, death, and fear, forced to leave their homes, possessions, jobs, schools, and communities. Refugees have to take perilous migrant routes only to find deplorable conditions in border camps once they arrive.

The Russian war in Ukraine drove the largest annual increase in refugees in decades. Aside from the resulting humanitarian crisis, it has also been a significant cause of economic instability, including massive inflation, the global food crisis, and worldwide grain shortages. Coupled with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people worldwide now living in extreme poverty has risen to 700 million.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has created a devastating refugee crisis in Africa. Half a million people have now fled the country, with a further 2 million internally displaced.

Forced to Flee – Which Countries do Refugees come from?

Syria - 6.5 million. Most Syrian refugees left after a peaceful uprising escalated into a brutal civil war. The earthquake in Syria and Turkey has worsened the situation.

Ukraine - 5.7 million. The Russian invasion of Ukraine created Europe's largest forced displacement since WWII. In addition to those who sought refuge abroad, 6 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced.

Afghanistan - 5.7 million. Afghanistan represents one of the largest long-term refugee challenges in the world. The 20-year war on terror and the subsequent Taliban takeover have created mass poverty, unemployment, and the complete rollback of women's rights.

Venezuela - 5.4 million. Almost a decade of political and economic instability driven by massive U.S. sanctions and interference has forced Venezuelans to neighbouring South American countries in search of food, employment, and a better life.

South Sudan - 2.2 million. Violent conflict, coupled with natural disasters, has created a refugee crisis in Africa as access to food, water, healthcare, sanitation, and education has become impossible in many places.

Myanmar - 1.2 million. The heavily persecuted Rohingya people fled Rakhine state after violence and human rights violations displaced many of the now stateless citizens into the world's largest refugee camp, Kutupalong in Bangladesh.

Hope Away from Home - Where do Refugees go?

Refugees often do not have a choice in the country where they will be hosted, and many migrant routes are incredibly dangerous, made worse by cruel migration policies and exploitative people smugglers. The number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe reached a peak in 2015 (more than one million); however, the journeys seem to be becoming deadlier, with more than 8,000 losing their lives in 2024 alone.

Since 2014, more than 72,000 migrants have died or gone missing in their attempt to seek out a better life. The true number is likely much higher. More than 50% of these incidents were at sea. The deadliest migration route is the Central Mediterranean. In these waters, at least 24,000 people have lost their lives.

Once migrants reach their destination, they are placed into overwhelmed and unsustainable refugee camps where food, water, shelter, sanitation, childhood education and healthcare are in short supply. Disease is a big problem, as well as a lack of maternal care, sexual and reproductive care, and support for mental health issues. Violence, poverty, and malnutrition are widespread.

How Can We Help Refugees?

Refugees face many barriers once settled in their host countries. Many have been separated from their families, suffered unimaginable loss and trauma, may not speak the language, and will be unfamiliar with their new culture.

Without integration, refugees become isolated, and hostility can grow in communities where newcomers are seen as a problem rather than an asset. Empathy and solidarity pave the way to ending harmful stereotypes, discrimination, and hate.

Successful integration of refugees includes providing education, job opportunities, and social support. A balanced and cooperative migration policy is crucial to meet the humanitarian needs of refugees, while sharing the burden across countries.

Many refugees bring valuable skills, experience, and talents that contribute to the development and growth of their host countries. When refugees are given the opportunity to develop their potential, they can contribute to enriching diversity and cultural exchange.

We have a global responsibility to increase efforts to address the root causes of displacement, promote a culture of peace, and create the conditions for the safe return of refugees to their home countries.

"Refugees represent the very best of the human spirit. They need and deserve support and solidarity - not closed borders and pushbacks" - UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Author: Rachael Mellor 29.06.23 (Updated 11.01.25) licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

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