There are currently 42.7 million refugees around the world. This is the highest level since World War II. It reflects continuing protracted conflict, aggravated by climate change and a lack of adequate resources.
Many refugees are living in host countries prone to violence and instability. This makes it harder for them to get the bare necessities they need, and can lead to resentment. In addition, the protracted nature of many crises means that refugees are displaced for years, and sometimes decades, rather than months or weeks.
The organizational design of refugee camps can also affect security and protection. Measures intended to reduce host-state destabilization, such as locating camps in peripheral and inhospitable regions or forbidding the use of durable building materials, can backfire by isolating refugees, limiting their access to legal employment, and creating an environment that facilitates criminal and political violence.
Refugees are protected by international law, including the 1951 Geneva Convention, and the UNHCR is responsible for their protection. However, many refugees live in countries that are not signatories to the Convention. These states can refuse to accept or protect them, even if they are legitimate refugees.
To solve the refugee crisis, it is crucial to address the underlying conflicts and persecution that force people to flee. This means ensuring that all countries, big and small, can take in those fleeing their homes — not just those with deep financial resources. It is also important to combat all forms of xenophobia and discrimination against refugees and migrants. It fuels the sense of resentment that can lead to conflict and violence.
