UNHCR Chief says global displacement has surged to record levels

(MENAFN) Global forced displacement has nearly doubled in under a decade, leaving millions without aid and fueling polarized debates on asylum, outgoing UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told a news outlet.

“The statistics tell the story eloquently. Today, the total number of people forced to flee their homes stands at 117.3 million,” Grandi said, noting that when he assumed the UNHCR role in 2016, the figure was just over 65 million. He attributed the surge to new conflicts, resurgent wars, and long-lasting crises that keep refugees exiled for years or even decades.

Grandi described international responses as “discouraging” at times, highlighting political divisions and shrinking aid budgets. He said, “The debate over refugees and asylum is polarized. Humanitarian funding is being slashed: UNHCR assesses that around 11.6 million displaced people have lost assistance this year. And some of the policies being proposed or used to manage asylum breach international law, or are in danger of doing so.”

He noted that migration continues as people flee persecution, conflict, and human rights violations, while debates oscillate between moral obligations to accept refugees and concerns over border control. Rising anti-immigrant rhetoric has contributed to funding cuts, forced returns, incommunicado detentions, and proposals for mass deportations and welfare reductions.

Despite these pressures, Grandi stressed that the global refugee protection system remains resilient. “The international refugee system, in the broadest sense of the phrase, is resilient. The right to seek asylum, the principles and practices of international protection, the architecture of humanitarian work, and the dedication of those involved – is still standing.”

Grandi emphasized ongoing efforts to find long-term solutions for displaced populations, pointing to regional cooperation mechanisms as promising approaches. He cited the EU’s common asylum system as an example that, if properly implemented with safeguards, “could provide a comprehensive, regional response to the challenges faced by states” while protecting refugees.

Responsibility-sharing between host countries and communities, he said, is “critical” to avoid long-term dependency. “All over the world, governments, organizations of all shapes and sizes, ordinary citizens and refugees themselves are still inspiring me with their determination, altruism and optimism – and their willingness to help,” Grandi said. He stressed that inclusive approaches—enabling refugees to learn, work, and live independently—are necessary to prevent generational dependency.

Grandi highlighted that inclusive refugee policies require both political will and financial investment. “Such inclusive policies are not the reality everywhere. They can be expensive, for one thing, and need buy-in from the public, governments, development organizations, international finance institutions and others. This is a necessary shift benefiting both host communities and refugees.” He underlined the role of partnerships in expanding resources, educational opportunities, legal protections, and climate resilience for displaced populations, referencing the 2019 and 2023 Global Refugee Forums and the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees.

Reflecting on the Syrian refugee crisis, Grandi praised Türkiye’s efforts. “At the height of the Syrian crisis, Türkiye took in and sheltered large numbers of Syrians, generously keeping up this support for many years as the war intensified. This came at a cost and deserves great recognition,” he said. Türkiye currently hosts over 3 million Syrians, according to UNHCR.

He noted that returns are increasing in areas where conditions stabilize. “Now, more than a million Syrian refugees, and many more who were internally displaced, are returning to their old communities. It is proof that when the conditions are right, people will return home,” Grandi said.

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