© UNHCR A Sudanese refugee with her child at the UNHCR registration center in Cairo, Egypt. People continue to support refugees, with the younger generation showing the most sympathy Daniel Johnson Refugees and Migrants
The responsibility to provide protection to refugees was enshrined in international law more than seven decades ago, but how willing is the world today to actually support those fleeing conflict and persecution?
Public support for people seeking asylum is much higher than it appears based on public debate, according to data released Tuesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “This support has remained relatively stable over the years, despite political tensions, economic pressures and, as you well know, a highly polarized public debate,” said Dominique Hyde, director of the Department of External Affairs. UNHCR.
“Double Vision”
Working in partnership with research firm Ipsos, the agency found that two-thirds of people in 29 countries agree that people fleeing war or persecution should be able to seek refuge in another country. But about the same percentage believed that many of those asking for protection don’t actually need it. “It’s often the same people: they hold both views at the same time,” said Trinh Thu, managing director of Ipsos UK. “There remains an imbalance in public opinion now between a desire to support those in desperate situations and doubts about how effectively national systems for asylum, border management and integration are working.” arrived in a new environment. This trend is particularly noticeable in the UK. We are seeing low levels of migration, but at the same time half the population of the country believes that immigration is out of control,” added Trinh Tu. In Germany and Sweden, where the influx of refugees remains significant, support for asylum seekers is still quite high, but in Turkey and Poland it has decreased compared to previous years. Dominique Hyde stressed the need for further international support, recalling the difficulties faced by countries hosting tens of thousands of people fleeing conflict. “Hospitality alone cannot replace international responsibility,” she said.
Harsh conditions and lack of essentials
Hyde recounted her visit to a camp in eastern Burundi where more than 57,000 Congolese refugees are fleeing brutal fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Only about four out of ten people had any kind of shelter there. “I saw mothers and fathers who barely had enough to eat,” Hyde said. “I listened to stories from families about overcrowded shelters. I’ve talked to people about how unsafe they think their local water is. Besides, there simply isn’t enough water. They spend their nights in the cold, in the open air, because the camp is located at an altitude of two thousand meters, and during the day they are exhausted by the heat.”
Discords among generations
Among more than 21,500 people surveyed in the survey, younger respondents have a much more positive view of refugees than older generations. Nearly half of Gen Z (1997–2012) believe refugees will integrate successfully, compared with 39 percent of so-called baby boomers (1946–1964). Gen Z is less likely to support closing borders or express doubts about refugees’ motivations. However, concerns about integration, border management and the credibility of asylum claims persist to varying degrees across all age groups. The UNHCR/Ipsos poll found that support for refugees was highest in Sweden and the Netherlands (78 percent), followed by Spain (76 percent). Australia, Brazil and the United States are the most positive about the benefits of refugee integration. Some countries have seen notable changes: in Japan, support for people seeking asylum rose to 64 percent from 23 percent in 2019; in France, from 43 to 68 percent. When asked about specific forced displacement situations and preferred responses, people most often chose direct emergency assistance, diplomatic measures and temporary protection. The survey results show that many believe that refugee protection should include more options beyond immediate resettlement. “We see that many support the right to seek safety, but also question the extent to which fairness, efficiency and how well asylum systems are managed,” Hyde said. “This is an important message for the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention: the challenge is to make its provisions work in practice.”
UN Assistance
Conflict, violence and persecution continued to force millions of people from their homes over the past year, while climate shocks and economic and political instability further exacerbated their needs. UNHCR aimed to help 129.4 million people, almost the same number as in 2024. At the same time, available resources fell by $1.2 billion. In 2025, UNHCR helped resettle more than 37,000 refugees, mainly from Turkey, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Rwanda. The agency sent 35 thousand applications for resettlement to 23 countries. Overall, the number of resettlement applications sent to states fell sharply last year.