On Thursday, the United Nations announced that the total number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide due to wars, violence, and persecution reached 120 million by the end of April 2024, a record number that continues to rise and represents a "terrible indictment of the state of the world." The UN High Commissioner for Refugees stated that forced displacement around the world increased for the twelfth consecutive year to a record level, as conflicts and wars raging in various places like Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar forced more people to flee their homes.
It warned that this number could rise even further if broad global political adjustments are not adopted. Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, stated, "These are refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons, people who have been forced to flee due to conflict, persecution, and diverse, increasingly complex forms of violence." He added, "Conflicts continue to be a significant driver of displacement."
In its report on global trends in forced displacement, the commission noted an annual increase in the number of forcibly displaced individuals over the past twelve years. The commission estimates that forced displacement continued to rise in the first four months of 2024, and it is likely that the number of displaced persons surpassed 120 million by the end of April. Grandi said, "Unless there is a shift in international geopolitical dynamics, unfortunately, I see this number continuing to rise," which implies the potential for new conflicts.
The conflicts that led to displacement include the war in Sudan, which Grandi described as "one of the most catastrophic wars" despite receiving less attention than other crises. He explained that more than nine million people have been displaced internally, and another two million have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan. He added, "People are arriving by the hundreds every day," referring to the influx of individuals seeking safety in Chad.
In Gaza, Israeli shelling and the ground operation have resulted in internal displacement of approximately 1.7 million people, representing about 80% of the Palestinian enclave's population, many of whom have had to move multiple times. Grandi warned that any potential crossings from Gaza to Egypt from the southern border town of Rafah to escape the Israeli attack would be catastrophic. He stated, "The occurrence of another refugee crisis outside Gaza would be catastrophic on all levels, as we have no guarantees that people will be able to return to Gaza one day."
