Sudanese women in a refugee camp in eastern Chad. The number of refugees in the world has reached 123 million and continues to grow Refugees and migrants
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has called for “urgent international support” as the number of internally displaced people worldwide reaches 123 million and ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, Sudan and elsewhere continue to displace people further.
In his address to the Third Committee of the General Assembly, Grandi drew attention to the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have caused widespread civilian casualties and destroyed infrastructure including schools, hospitals and roads.
“The humanitarian consequences [of the fighting] are staggering and require urgent international support,” he said, noting that 470,000 people had crossed the border between Lebanon and Syria in recent weeks.
The situation in Sudan has also reached a critical level: more than 11 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began 18 months ago.
“The situation in Sudan defies description – senseless violence, sexual atrocities, famine, floods, disease. We are witnessing the collapse of the country’s social infrastructure in real time,” he warned.
A new approach is needed
The High Commissioner expressed particular concern that governments were increasingly imposing restrictive measures that focused on border controls and, in some cases, attempted to “suspend asylum.” He stressed that such approaches were “not only ineffective, but also in violation of their international legal obligations.”
He called for forced displacement to be addressed through a “comprehensive and effective approach.” The High Commissioner called on UN member states to look beyond border controls and examine “global routes of movement.”
UN staff deliver mattresses to people displaced by conflict in Lebanon.
He called on countries to “look for opportunities in countries of origin” to “build the resilience of communities at risk from climate change.”
Grandi also noted the need to “look for opportunities to expand legal stay and regularization programmes in countries of asylum or transit, creating access to services and employment” and to create more pathways for people to move “legally and safely.”
Talking about funding challenges, Grandi said the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had been forced to cut 1,000
positions and freeze critical life-saving activities due to recent funding constraints. He noted that “funding levels for 2025 and beyond remain uncertain, further compromising the ability of UNHCR and host countries to respond to refugee and displacement crises in a predictable and flexible manner.”
“We must be able to act together even in difficult times,” he concluded, adding that the international community must stand in solidarity with displaced and stateless people around the world.