Recently, the United Nations said that a record-breaking 120 million people were living in a forcibly displaced status globally between the beginning of 2023 and May 2024.
Key Findings of the Report On Forced Displacement in 2024
- Data on Forced Displacements: An estimated 117.3 million people remained forcibly displaced at the end of 2023, having been forced to flee persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order.
- In May, 120 million people were displaced globally, nearly 10% more than the figures from 2022, representing around 1.5% of the world’s population.
- Massive Displacement Crisis: The report highlighted flashpoints worldwide where conflict and violence had forced people from their homes.
- The fighting in Sudan which broke out in April 2023 was cited as causing one of “the largest humanitarian and displacement crises in the world” with more than 6 million people forced to flee by December 2023
- Countries Affected by Conflict: Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Haiti, Syria and Armenia were among the countries mentioned where conflict and violence had forced people to seek safety elsewhere.
- Refugee and Migrant Destinations: The report pointed out that 75% of refugees and migrants headed to low and middle-income countries, countering the perception that most were heading to wealthy countries.
- Top Countries for Asylum Applications: The report did, however, state that half of all new asylum applications were received in just five countries with the vast majority being made in the US with 1.2 million.
- This was followed by Germany with 329,100 followed by Egypt, Spain and Canada.
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Refugees
- Definition: Refugees are people who have fled their homes, crossed an international border, and cannot return because they fear their lives are in danger. People become refugees when one or more of their basic human rights are violated or threatened.
- Protection: Refugees have a right to be protected by the country where they seek asylum and can’t be forced to return home.
- They also have the right to education, employment, healthcare, and freedom of movement under the UN 1951 Refugee Convention, although these rights are often violated.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)
- Definition: IDPs have been forced to flee their homes for the same reasons as refugees but have not crossed an international border. IDPs live in their countries of origin but are often afraid or unwilling to return home for fear of persecution.
- Rights of IDPs: Although many IDPs face the same difficulties as refugees, they aren’t granted the same rights under international law – ‘internally displaced person’ is a descriptive term, not a legal one.
- While assistance to refugees is a legal requirement, the principles on internal displacement are non-binding.
- IDPs still have rights, but some governments are unable or unwilling to honour those rights.
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Forced Displacement
- About: Forced displacement occurs when individuals and communities are forced or obliged to flee or leave their homes or places of habitual residence as a result of or to avoid the effects of events or situations such as armed conflict, generalised violence, human rights abuses, natural or man-made disasters, and/or development projects.
International law say about forced displacement
International humanitarian law requires parties to a conflict to spare the civilian population as much as possible from the effects of hostilities and to treat all civilians in their power humanely
- Prohibitions: The law strictly prohibits parties in conflict from forcibly displacing civilians unless absolutely necessary for their safety or compelling military reasons.
- It mandates that displaced persons must have the right to return voluntarily and safely once these reasons no longer exist.
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June 14, 2024