Latest news with #WorldRefugeeDay
Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
African refugees bear the brunt of shifting global politics
On World Refugee Day, displaced Africans face the worst conditions yet as conflict and disasters increase, aid plummets and borders tighten. The number of displaced Africans has doubled since 2018. For the 14th consecutive year, conflict and climate change have driven record numbers of people from their homes. Changes in national priorities, economic uncertainty and donor fatigue have seen political attention turn inward, surges in defence spending and corresponding aid cuts, the shuttering of refugee resettlement programmes, and tighter border security. African refugees bear the brunt of these changes. Those already in dire situations now face even bigger threats to their survival. Last week, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) released its annual Global Trends report. At the end of 2024, 123.2 million people were displaced — up by seven million in one year. Most displaced Africans remain in their home countries or neighbouring countries, many of which are also resource-poor and suffer from conflict. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa has tripled since 2015, reaching 35.4 million in 2024. Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) comprised almost half (45%) of all conflict-driven internal displacements worldwide in 2024. Sudan is the world's largest displacement and humanitarian crisis. The civil war has driven 14.4 million people from their homes and left two-thirds of the population requiring humanitarian aid. Most (11.6 million) are internally displaced (see graph), and 2.8 million are across borders. At the end of 2024, conflict in eastern DRC had created 1.22 million refugees and asylum seekers, and 6.9 million IDPs. As of April 2025, the UNHCR reported a 1% drop in total refugees worldwide for the first time in a decade. In 2024, 1.6 million people returned to their home countries — mainly Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Many returned to poor conditions after giving up trying to access rights and services in host countries. South Sudan was the only African country to see significant returns. Going home is not viable for most refugees on the continent due to the protracted nature of conflicts. Many end up spending their lives in severely underfunded camps, unable to work, study or move freely. Funding cuts will worsen their prospects. The Norwegian Refugee Council issues an annual list of the top 10 most neglected displacement crises globally. Eight in 2025 are in Africa: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Mali, Uganda, DRC and Somalia. Cameroon 'most neglected' crisis The council rated Cameroon the world's most neglected crisis, assigning a zero out of 30 rating for political will and 'negligible' media coverage. Cameroon hosts people fleeing internal conflicts and violence in the Lake Chad Basin and Central African Republic. It hosts 1.1 million IDPs, 480,000 refugees, and has 2.8 million people facing acute food security. Most marginal gains in refugee resettlement numbers over the past three years were due to the US. The country raised its resettlement ceiling to 125,000 refugees per year during former president Joe Biden's last three years in office. Although it fell short of the ceiling each year, in 2024 the US resettled 100,034 refugees, the highest number in three decades. At the start of his second term, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing a near-full halt on foreign aid and the Refugee Admissions Program, followed by a halt on activities supporting refugees. Reports also indicate Trump is diverting US$250-million from foreign aid budgets towards repatriating foreigners, often without due process and at times, against court orders. The US recently implemented a travel ban that disproportionately affects Africans, including full bans on people from Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia and Sudan, and partial bans on those from Burundi, Sierra Leone and Togo. While the US has made the harshest changes, the UK reduced development assistance by 40%, and several European countries announced their own reductions. The European Union (EU) redirected some of its development budget to Ukraine and border management. Historically, official development aid has always been dwarfed by military spending (see graph). European countries and the EU are also reorienting their migration policies away from humanitarian support and legal pathways to increasing securitisation measures to reduce flows and pressuring governments to accept returns. No 'safe' third country Under the Pact on Migration and Asylum, set to take effect in 2026, the European Commission will remove the requirement for a connection between a migrant and a 'safe third country'. Migrants can then be sent to any country deemed 'safe' — even if they have no connection to that country. The pact also allows for rapid asylum processing for people from countries deemed safe, and for their detention. Before the major slashes, global refugee funding gaps already reached $24-billion in 2024. Funding for humanitarian food aid is projected to drop by up to 45%, and most forcibly displaced people are in areas experiencing food crises. The concomitant reductions in development aid will reduce host country governments' fiscal capabilities to support refugees. Remittances are the most resilient forms of aid and are pivotal to development. They comprise the largest financial flow to Africa and have proven countercyclical, meaning they often go up when markets go down or experience a shock. In another step ostensibly to counter irregular migration, a 3.5% tax on remittances is included in the US's One Big Beautiful Bill that would directly impact development in Africa if enacted. The sum total of these conditions is catastrophic for African refugees and IDPs. Many people are exposed to harm, with fewer protections and almost no development prospects. Programmes such as education, psychosocial support and healthcare are cut first because they are not life-saving. Many African countries that already resist or are outright hostile to refugees will be more likely to shut borders and demolish camps if they think the world is no longer paying attention or has set a double standard. In some circumstances, these conditions will drive onward migration and push people towards illegality. DM
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Hamas says refugee issue linked to ending Israeli occupation
Hamas has reiterated that the plight of Palestinian refugees cannot be resolved without a complete end to Israeli occupation and the right of return to their original homes. 'There is no solution to the Palestinian refugee issue except by ending the occupation and allowing them to return to the homes from which they were displaced,' the group said in a statement marking World Refugee Day. The movement also condemned Israel's ongoing military operations in West Bank refugee camps, calling them a 'dangerous attempt to target the refugee issue through systematic destruction and displacement'. Hamas further rejected what it described as Zionist efforts, backed by the United States, to 'eliminate Unrwa's role' in supporting Palestinian refugees
Egypt Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt hosts 10 million refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 62 nationalities
A ship and remains of illegal migrants - CC via pxfuel CAIRO – 20 June 2025: On World Refugee Day, commemorated annually on June 20, Egypt joins the international community in honoring the resilience of millions forced to flee their homes in search of safety and dignity. The day serves as a reminder of the global refugee crisis and a renewed call for solidarity with both displaced persons and the communities that host them. Egypt has long been a safe haven for individuals fleeing conflict, persecution, and hardship. Today, the country hosts more than 10 million refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 62 different nationalities. In 2024, Egypt ranked second globally in the number of asylum applications submitted. Egypt's approach to refugee protection is rooted in respect for human dignity. It guarantees refugees and asylum seekers freedom of movement, access to basic services, and opportunities for integration—on par with Egyptian citizens. This inclusive policy reflects Egypt's continued commitment to its international obligations and humanitarian principles. Against a backdrop of worsening global crises and military escalations—particularly in the Middle East—Egypt emphasizes that international cooperation remains the only viable path to effectively and sustainably address refugee challenges. The growing scale and complexity of displacement underscore the need for equitable burden and responsibility sharing. In December 2024, Egypt became the first country in North Africa to adopt a dedicated legal framework on asylum by enacting the Foreign Asylum Law. On this occasion, Egypt reiterates the urgent need to mobilize international resources to support host countries in maintaining and enhancing the services provided to both refugees and their host communities. Furthermore, Egypt stresses the importance of a comprehensive approach to refugee issues—one that integrates humanitarian response with long-term development strategies to bolster the resilience of host communities. This must be accompanied by efforts to address the root causes of displacement through peace-building and conflict resolution initiatives, helping to create the conditions necessary for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees. Egypt reaffirms its commitment to continued cooperation with international organizations, especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and to advancing its efforts at regional and international levels in support of peace, development, and the protection of displaced populations.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Our unexploded bombs in Southeast Asia from 50 years ago still kill people today
Imagine airplanes dropping bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 long years. This was the reality for Laos, a country scarred by a secret war most Americans never knew about. My parents, age 14 at the time, were forced to endure the destruction and displacement of their community, its people and its religious sites. From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. secretly dropped at least 2.5 million tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing missions, making it the most bombed country per capita in history. Although I wasn't born during this war, I inherited its consequences. As a child, I witnessed my father, a surgeon, operate on countless victims of unexploded ordnance accidents. One was my classmate, a five-year-old little girl. The imminent dangers forced my family to flee in 1990 when I was only six years old. In 1971, the so-called 'Secret War' in Laos was revealed to Congress, thanks to the courage of Fred Branfman and Bouangeun Luangpraseuth, who collected harrowing survivor testimonials. Yet it took two more decades before the U.S. began allocating funds to clean up its mess. In 1993, funding remained under $3 million, barely a drop compared to the $50 billion it had cost to bomb a neutral country against which we never declared war. Today, millions of unexploded bombs remain, posing a deadly threat to children and their families. An estimated one-fourth of Laos is contaminated and less than 10 percent has been cleared. This burden hinders all aspects of life for the people of Laos, not only safety, but the long-term economic development. As we commemorate World Refugee Day on June 20, we also recognize two other important dates: 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War and 50 years since the largest refugee resettlement wave in U.S. history — a direct result of America's military actions in Southeast Asia. The Vietnam War affected not just the U.S. and Vietnam, but also Laos and Cambodia. Instead of celebrating our collective gains of peace with former adversaries, President Trump took office announcing a 90-day foreign aid freeze on January 20. All U.S.-funded programs were issued a stop-work order, including life-saving de-mining initiatives in Laos. This was no insignificant matter. During the freeze, there were nine casualties in Laos from unexploded ordnance, including the death of a 15-year-old girl. Thanks to persistent advocacy efforts from former U.S. ambassadors, veterans, youth and strong bipartisan Congressional support, funding for unexploded ordnance programs has resumed. but the damage during the halt is irreversible, and the trust between our country and the region is fragile. To its credit, the U.S. has worked to resolve the enduring legacies of war — efforts that have saved lives, supported vulnerable communities, and strengthened diplomacy. Foreign aid is a strategic investment in our nation's long-term interests and global stability. Nowhere is this more evident than in Southeast Asia, where U.S. assistance has shown clear and lasting benefits: improved safety, stronger economies, and deeper cooperation between nations. The U.S. began its post-war engagement by focusing on the recovery of Americans missing in action in 1985. The first American investigative team was approved by the Laotian government well before Laos and the U.S. normalized relations. The American team traveled to my childhood home, Pakse, Laos, to recover the remains of 13 service members lost in a 1972 plane crash. Since then, the U.S. has recovered more than 280 of the MIAs in Laos. This collaboration became the cornerstone for broader initiatives, such as the removal of unexploded ordnance and education about the dangers of explosive remnants of war. These preventative efforts, combined with de-mining, have led to a dramatic drop in casualties in Laos, from more than 300 annually to 60 or fewer in the last decade. Recognizing the value of these efforts, the U.S. now invests in similar programs globally and is the world's largest supporter of humanitarian de-mining, with more than $5 billion invested to date. These programs prove what long-term commitment and international cooperation can achieve — helping war-torn communities rebuild, heal, and thrive. As a former refugee, I view World Refugee Day as not just a day of reflection, but a reckoning — a test of our values, of whether we are willing to do right by those still living with the consequences of our past actions. If America is to lead with morality, it must continue investing in the recovery of countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. That means sustained funding and genuine partnership — not the politics of the moment, but a humane foreign policy shaped by the lessons of our past. In the end, this is not only about Southeast Asia. It is about who we are and who we choose to be. America's legacy should not be measured by the bombs we dropped, but by the lives we choose to heal. Sera Koulabdara is CEO of Legacies of War and co-chair of the War Legacies Working Group.
Mail & Guardian
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Don't call asylum seekers and refugees makwerekwere; make them feel at home
Asylum seekers and refugees leave their home countries because life has become intolerable. They seek safety and understanding. World Refugee Day is observed annually on 20 June to honour the courage and strength of people who have been forced to escape their home country by conflict or persecution. According to the In South Africa, refugees and asylum seekers, like many around the world, seek safety and an opportunity to rebuild their lives after escaping violence, conflict and persecution from their countries of origin. But many continue to face ongoing difficulties, including xenophobia and limited opportunities to earn an income. These difficulties are often worsened by delays or obstacles in With more than First, we should have discussions with refugees and asylum seekers . It is essential to better understand their experiences of living in the country and the types of support they need to rebuild their lives effectively. In my experience, many are willing to speak openly and share their stories when given a safe space to do so. Second, we should make refugees and asylum seekers feel welcome. They are often called 'makwerekwere', a derogatory term used by some to inform foreign nationals from African countries that they are outsiders who are not welcome. Instead of looking at refugees and asylum seekers as outsiders, we need to focus on how we can make South Africa a place of safety and dignity, where they can rebuild their lives and feel at home. One way to achieve this is by running community-based programmes in areas where refugees and asylum seekers live. These programmes can raise awareness about who refugees are, why they are in communities and how local residents can partner with them to build stronger and more inclusive communities. Such platforms also allow refugees and asylum seekers to tell their stories. This will help locals to understand the context of their journeys and the reasons they have sought refuge in South Africa. Being given a voice also empowers refugees and asylum seekers to participate in community life and build mutual understanding. Many refugees are skilled professionals (lawyers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and more) who bring valuable experience and expertise that can benefit South African society. Embracing their contributions is a step toward building more inclusive and safe communities for all. Third, we should teach children to respect and accept refugees and asylum seekers . Through my work with refugee and asylum-seeking children in mental health services and research, one recurring problem they face is bullying often because of their skin tone or accent. It is important to teach local children respect, empathy, and inclusion. School-based programmes and initiatives can encourage South African learners to see refugees and asylum seekers as equals, and not to mock, isolate,or bully them for being different. In 2020, Fourth, we should support organisations that provide services to refugees and asylum seekers . In recent years, organisations worldwide offering essential services to them have had severe funding cuts, further reducing already limited services to this marginalised population. For example, in South Africa, the Adonis Musati Project, which was founded in 2007 and offered skills training, youth programmes and psychosocial support, had to close because of a lack of funding. Organisations such as the Trauma Centre and Last, we should prioritise multi-stakeholder intervention. It is also important for civil society, and government departments (such as health, education and the police) to collaborate in finding solutions to address the problems refugees and asylum seekers face. Ensuring access to basic needs like education and healthcare, as well as support services such as local language programmes and income-generating opportunities, is critical to promoting the effective settlement and integration of refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa. Standing in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa requires us all to play our part. The country is known around the world for its philosophy of ubuntu, which means 'am because we are'. For the nation to fully reflect its spirit of ubuntu and show humanity towards others, all who live in the country must extend compassion, understanding and support to refugees and asylum seekers as they work to rebuild their lives and heal from traumatic experiences. Yeukai Chideya is a researcher at the Institute for Life Course Health Research at Stellenbosch University.
