Geneva: The number of people forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and persecution has surpassed 122 million globally, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said Thursday, as long-standing crises show no signs of resolution and international support dwindles.
Despite the return of many Syrians following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the net number of displaced people grew by more than 2 million in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, UNHCR reported.
Conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine were highlighted as the primary drivers behind the escalating displacement figures. UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi condemned the global community's failure to halt violence, warning of a deteriorating humanitarian landscape.
“We are navigating an era of heightened geopolitical instability, where modern warfare brings unprecedented human suffering,” Grandi said in a statement accompanying the report.
The growing crisis comes amid a steep decline in humanitarian funding, with current financial support falling back to levels not seen since 2015—when the number of displaced people was roughly half what it is today. The agency described the funding situation as “brutal and ongoing,” saying it leaves countless vulnerable people without the support they need.
Aid organizations are struggling to meet increasing needs while political efforts to negotiate peace have stagnated. Humanitarian groups say the lack of decisive diplomatic engagement is prolonging conflicts and overburdening the aid system.
UNHCR has not specified which donors have scaled back their contributions, but previous statements have cited reductions in foreign aid under U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as declining commitments from the UK and other European countries, which are increasingly prioritizing defense spending over international aid.
The agency warned that these funding cuts threaten the lives of millions, particularly women and children who are more exposed to dangers like sexual violence and human trafficking in crisis zones.
