Thu Jun 12 05:08:02 UTC 2025: ## Global Displacement Crisis Deepens: Over 123 Million Forcibly Displaced, UN Report Reveals
**Geneva, Switzerland** – A staggering 123.2 million people worldwide remain forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations, according to a new report released today by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This grim figure represents one in every 67 people on the planet, marking a concerning increase of 7 million, or 6%, compared to the end of 2023 and continuing a 13-year trend of escalating displacement.
While initial estimates suggest a slight decrease in forced displacement to 122.1 million by the end of April 2025, the overall picture remains dire. Of the total displaced population, 73.5 million are internally displaced persons (IDPs) within their own countries, accounting for 60% of the total. The war in Gaza has contributed significantly to this crisis, with UNRWA estimating that approximately 90% of the population, or over two million people, have been displaced by the ongoing conflict.
“We are living in a time of intense volatility in international relations, with modern warfare creating a fragile, harrowing landscape marked by acute human suffering,” stated UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “We must redouble our efforts to search for peace and find long-lasting solutions for refugees and others forced to flee their homes.”
As of 2024, the number of refugees stood at 42.7 million, a slight decrease from the previous year. However, the number of asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their protection claims has surged by 22% to 8.4 million. The UNHCR reports that the lower number of refugees is due to updated reporting on Afghan, Syrian, and Ukrainian refugees. However, the number of Sudanese refugees increased significantly to 2.1 million.
The report highlights the devastating impact of ongoing conflicts, particularly in Sudan, where violence has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, leaving 14.3 million Sudanese displaced. In 2024, Sudanese, Syrian, Afghan, and Ukrainian populations made up over one-third of the total displaced population.
While 1.6 million refugees and 8.2 million IDPs returned to their areas of origin in 2024, the UNHCR cautioned that many returns were to unstable and conflict-ridden environments, making them unsustainable.
Despite the bleak outlook, Grandi expressed a sliver of hope, acknowledging the return of nearly two million Syrians after a decade of displacement. However, he emphasized the continued need for support to rebuild their lives.
The UNHCR report serves as a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of conflict and persecution, urging the international community to prioritize peace and durable solutions for the millions forced to flee their homes.
First Piper 