Forced displacement is reaching unprecedented levels, with the UN projecting further increases by 2025 due to ongoing conflicts and natural disasters. UNHCR aims to raise $10.25 billion for humanitarian efforts, having secured $1.5 billion in recent pledges. Currently, around 123 million people are displaced globally, with many facing decades away from home. The humanitarian crises in Syria and Sudan are particularly severe, highlighting the urgent need for global solidarity and support for affected populations.
Rising Forced Displacement: A Global Crisis
The United Nations has issued a stark warning that the current levels of forced displacement, already at record highs, are expected to escalate further in 2025. Ongoing conflicts and natural disasters are driving more individuals to abandon their homes in search of safety and stability.
Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), expressed deep concern, stating, “We live in a world ravaged by violent conflicts, with no end in sight, that shatter lives and push people to flee desperately in search of safety.” This highlights the urgent need for global attention and action.
Funding Humanitarian Efforts
To tackle the mounting crises, the UNHCR is aiming to raise $10.25 billion in the upcoming year. A recent donor conference in Geneva successfully secured $1.14 billion in government pledges, with private sector contributions bringing the total to $1.5 billion.
“The resolute support for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons demonstrated today resonates as an essential message of solidarity and humanity,” Grandi stated. He emphasized that these commitments are vital for saving lives, restoring dignity, and providing hope for millions affected by displacement.
Currently, approximately 123 million people are displaced worldwide, with projections suggesting that over 139 million may require assistance from the UNHCR next year due to the intensifying nature of conflicts and disasters. Unfortunately, many refugees face an average displacement period of 20 years before they can return home.
Despite the fragile nature of humanitarian aid commitments, Grandi urged, “we cannot afford to give up.” The situation remains dire, particularly in regions like Syria and Sudan, where the humanitarian impact of ongoing conflicts is profound.
In Syria, the resurgence of fighting and the control of key areas by Islamist-led rebels have exacerbated the crisis, with significant implications for both refugees and internally displaced persons. Similarly, the conflict in Sudan has displaced over 12 million people, profoundly affecting vulnerable populations, including women and children.
As the UNHCR prepares for the challenges ahead in 2025, it remains committed to providing aid to the most impacted regions, including Ukraine, Lebanon, and Ethiopia, among others. The need for global solidarity and action has never been more critical.