More than 1 in 74 people globally have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety and a new life. They become refugees when they are at serious risk of persecution or severe human rights violations, or when their home country is unable or unwilling to protect them. Many also are asylum seekers, internally displaced people, or stateless people. They seek refuge from violence and war, hunger, extreme poverty, discrimination based on race or sexual orientation, natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, climate change, or a combination of these factors.
The refugee crisis didn’t just appear overnight. It began in the 1960s and 1970s, owing to major protracted conflicts like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. It escalated through the 1980s and 1990s, with large displacements resulting from a number of other protracted conflicts such as Iraq, Rwanda, and Yugoslavia.
Whether they are in their countries of origin or their host states, people who have been displaced by conflict can be vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation by powerful political interests. They can be targets of scapegoating and targeted with hate speech, and their plight may become a substitute for dealing with the root causes of conflict. Their shaky living conditions can exacerbate tensions with local communities, leading to the growth of a distorted informal economy, often including organized crime.
Large-scale refugee crises are deeply entwined with civil conflict and can affect regional security and economic stability. For example, Lebanon’s influx of Syrian refugees has affected its delicate sectarian balance and exacerbated concerns about destabilization in the region. The global community must commit to taking the necessary steps to address all dimensions of this crisis.
About the Author
