What's happened
The UNHCR reports a slight decrease in global displacement, with 122.1 million people forcibly displaced as of April 2025. While nearly 2 million Syrians returned home, crises in Sudan and Haiti continue to drive displacement. Humanitarian efforts face funding challenges, exacerbating the situation for millions in need.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights:
- Current Trends: The UNHCR's report indicates a slight decline in displacement numbers, yet the overall figure remains alarmingly high. The return of Syrians is a positive development, but it does not offset the ongoing crises in other regions.
- Regional Disparities: Sudan has overtaken Syria as the epicenter of displacement, with over 14 million people affected. This shift underscores the evolving nature of global humanitarian crises.
- Haiti's Deteriorating Situation: Gang violence has displaced over 1 million Haitians, with the International Organization for Migration warning of a 24% increase in displacement since December. The lack of effective governance and security exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
- Funding Challenges: Humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program, face significant budget cuts, limiting their ability to respond to crises. The U.S. has reduced its contributions, impacting aid delivery to vulnerable populations.
- Future Outlook: Without increased international support and funding, the situation for displaced individuals will likely worsen. The need for a coordinated global response is critical to address the root causes of displacement and provide necessary aid.
What the papers say
The Japan Times reports a slight decrease in global displacement figures, noting that the UNHCR recorded 122.1 million displaced individuals as of April 2025, down from a record high of 123.2 million at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, AP News highlights the return of nearly 2 million Syrians as a 'ray of hope' amidst ongoing crises. However, the report also emphasizes the alarming rise in internally displaced persons, particularly in Sudan and Haiti, where gang violence has led to significant displacement. The Independent echoes these concerns, detailing the dire humanitarian situation in Haiti, where over 5.7 million people are in urgent need of food due to escalating violence. The World Food Program's Lola Castro warns that without additional funding, the agency will struggle to meet the needs of those affected by hunger and displacement.
How we got here
The global displacement crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, particularly in Syria, Sudan, and Haiti. The UNHCR's Global Trends Report highlights the cumulative effects of violence and persecution, with millions displaced both internally and across borders.
Go deeper
- What are the main causes of displacement?
- How is the international community responding to these crises?
- What can individuals do to help displaced persons?
More on these topics
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Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti formerly founded as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security.
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The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
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Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia.
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
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Filippo Grandi is a diplomat and United Nations official of Italy, current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
He previously served as Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East an
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe