The world is facing a refugee crisis, the biggest since WWII. New displacement is at a twenty-year high and nearly half of all refugees are children.
The conflict in Syria was a tipping point, but other crises such as the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the ongoing conflict in South Sudan are also driving more people to flee their homes. In addition, protracted conflict is increasing the duration of displacement and making it harder for refugees to return home.
Refugee flows are complicated by the fact that most of those who flee war or persecution come from low- and lower middle-income countries, which often struggle to meet the needs of their populations. They are also vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers and other criminal networks, and often lack access to public goods such as healthcare, education and housing. These factors increase the risk of conflict and desperation, which in turn increases the likelihood that some will try to cross borders illegally.
We need to address all of these problems in order to prevent more people from becoming refugees. This means addressing the root causes of displacement, working to ensure that refugees can return to their homes when conditions are safe enough and providing opportunities for those who cannot return. It also means putting people’s safety first and combating all forms of xenophobia, including the racism, discrimination and hatred that has led to attacks on refugees and migrants in recent years.
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