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June 20 marks UN Refugee Day, in the gloomy shadow of the largest displacement crisis since World War II.
Ever before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says there were 89 million people forcibly displaced worldwide. With the exodus from Ukraine, this figure reached over 100 million.
“We are already very focused on Ukraine, but Ukraine came after a series of other emergencies.”says Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner for Refugees.
The agency’s new Global Trends report says last year’s five crises were responsible for displacing almost 70% of people. They are from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.
In Afghanistan, 24 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance; the economy is in a miserable state and the Taliban are imposing further restrictions on women and girls. The UNHCR says all these pressures have forced 2.7 million Afghans to flee.
“People are crossing borders, sometimes with visas, but most of the time without visas and documentation, sometimes up to 20,000 people a day.”says Peter Kessler, UNHCR spokesman in Afghanistan.
Many people leave for neighboring countries. Over one million have fled Ukraine to find security in Poland.
“People do not leave as much as possible, but stay close to the conflict zone. And they return not as late as possible, but as early as possible. “says Rafal Kostrzynski, UNHCR spokesman in Poland.
Only 5.7 million displaced persons and refugees returned to their country of origin during 2021.
Attention this year has turned to the right to seek security.
The richest nations have acted differently in terms of hosting refugees and asylum seekers.
The High Commissioner for Refugees says he hopes these countries already understand the link that exists between bombs and escape.
“People leave because they are scared. It is not just Ukrainians. The Syrians have fled the bombing, the people in Tigray. People in the Sahel have fled bombings and relentless attacks. “So the fear of insecurity is the same, whether for someone from Ukraine or Nicaragua.”says Mr. Grandi.
Shocked by fear and insecurity, Iryna Morykvas fled Ukraine along with her son after Russia launched the attack, leaving behind her husband.
“They took only the most important things and crossed the border.” she says.
Already based in the Netherlands, Ms. Morykvas, a professional artist, collaborated with UNHCR to create the Twitter logo for this year’s World Refugee Day.
“When we open the door of our home to people in need, but refugees for example in need, it is like opening our heart, because the home is the heart of a family.”she says.
Tens of millions of refugees and displaced people around the world hope to be received with warmth and security.
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