Report: The United Nations reports a significant increase in forced displacement worldwide, with 117.3 million people uprooted by the end of 2023, marking a concerning trend over the past decade.
Recently, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has labeled the ongoing violence in the DRC as one of the world's most dangerous and underreported humanitarian crises. Over 230,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 due to intensified clashes in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu.
Rich in natural resources, these provinces have been plagued by conflicts for over three decades. The M23 rebel group, declared a "terrorist group" by the DRC government, continues to expand its control, including capturing the town of Masisi earlier this month.
UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun warned of widespread human rights violations and mass displacement. The agency estimates that 4.6 million displaced people already live in North and South Kivu, making the DRC one of the largest hosts of internally displaced persons (IDPs) globally.
The UNHCR, alongside UNRWA and IDMC, further provides the following regional data on displaced populations according to which Africa is home of 43.0 million internally displaced people while Asia, including the Middle East has 44.4 million displaced, Americas 16.2 million and Europe has 13.4 million million people internally displaced.
According to UNHCR country report:
Haiti: Armed violence has displaced over 500,000 children, a 48% increase since September 2024.
Yemen: The ongoing crisis has left 4.8 million people displaced, with 19.5 million requiring urgent aid for food, healthcare, and protection in 2025.
Afghanistan: Conflict and disasters have resulted in 4.2 million IDPs as of the end of 2023.
Pakistan: An estimated 3.2 million people remain internally displaced due to conflict.
MENA Region: In 2022, 16.2 million IDPs accounted for 23% of the global total.
A significant number of internally displaced individuals are those rendered homeless due to climate change. This includes a large population from Pakistan and various U.S. states, who have been displaced by floods and earthquakes.
The UNHCR has appealed for $226 million to support the displaced in the DRC, but less than 10% of this funding has been received. Access to affected populations remains limited due to insecurity and armed violence.
The agency stressed the worsening conditions for vulnerable populations globally, urging international cooperation and funding to address the escalating crisis.
