The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently reported significant challenges arising from a funding shortfall amidst a backdrop of surging global forced displacement. With global displacement figures doubling over the past decade, UNHCR is under increasing pressure to provide support to those affected. The gaps in funding are critical, highlighting the increased dependency of millions on humanitarian efforts coordinated by the UNHCR.
This surge is attributed predominantly to unresolved and prolonged conflicts, especially in countries such as Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine, with Sudan witnessing what the UNHCR calls the “largest internal displacement crisis ever recorded.” In 2024 alone, a staggering 123.2 million individuals were reported as forcefully displaced, with internally displaced persons (IDPs) making up the largest demographic of this group.
Despite these disheartening statistics, there are some positive developments. Notably, UNHCR has recorded the highest resettlement figures in 40 years and the return of 9.8 million displaced individuals to their homes last year. These improvements have been significantly influenced by the resolution of conflicts in regions such as Syria and Afghanistan.
The UNHCR emphasizes the urgent necessity for increased funding to mitigate the risks facing displaced populations, particularly as the majority of refugees find asylum in low and middle-income nations. According to Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, securing more resources is crucial in this era of increasing global instability.
The legal landscape for displaced individuals reveals stark contrasts. While refugees enjoy specific legal protections under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which ensures rights such as non-discrimination and access to essential services, IDPs do not have a tailored international legal framework safeguarding their rights. Although international humanitarian law and other human rights laws provide some level of protection, the absence of a specific framework leaves IDPs more exposed during conflicts.
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