Every day, families around the world are forced to flee their homes. Some become refugees in a new country, while others search for safety and a better life without crossing an international border. Some find the security and opportunity they seek, but far too many people struggle to meet even the most basic needs.
There are many reasons that someone may be forced to leave their home, including persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social status; conflict; extreme poverty and lack of adequate food and medical care; violence; and severe environmental degradation (including water scarcity and desertification). Today, conflict and war produce the most refugee crises requiring UNHCR intervention. Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar and Ukraine currently have the highest numbers of refugees.
In addition, natural disasters — including floods, earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes and drought – can also drive people to seek asylum, although these events do not usually cause them to cross international borders. Climate change, through its accelerated erosion of land and increasing sea levels, is increasingly driving this type of displacement.
Local integration involves the permanent settlement of refugees in their host countries and offers stability and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. However, the protracted nature of current conflicts means that refugees are often displaced for years, and the capacity to provide the bare necessities to large populations for extended periods of time is limited. Moreover, the commodification of refugees and their manipulation by donor states can fuel destabilization in their places of first asylum.
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