9 Things I Learned from the USA for UNHCR Briefing Call

Last month, I was honored to be invited to sit in on a briefing call for USA for UNHCR, along with others who work alongside them. It was extremely informing, and I found myself taking in as much as I could. Below, here are nine things I learned during the call about the current state of the worldwide humanitarian crisis:

1. At the end of 2021, 89.3 million people were forced to flee their homes. Today, that number is more than 100 million.

2. There are currently 21.3 million refugees under UNHCR’s mandate, with 5.8 million of them being Palestinian refugees under UNRWA’s mandate.

3. Right now UNHCR is involved in and provides aid to 40 active emergencies.

4. This is not a refugee crisis. It is a political will crisis. It’s not refugees who are causing these problems. It is the lack of political will that is causing the greatest amount of human suffering. World leaders are able to solve this crisis When governments share responsibility and everyone comes together, it is manageable. When there is the political will, it can be addressed in a way that is more humane and responsible.

5. These are the counties that host the most refugees:

   Turkey

   Colombia

   Uganda

   Pakistan

   Germany

6. 83% of all refugees are coming from just 10 countries. The largest numbers are from Syria and Ukraine with 7 million.

7. Lower income countries are the ones who are mainly hosting. Poorer countries are showing the most solidarity and hospitality, even when they themselves are suffering greatly. It’s only through responsibility sharing that we can address the refugee criss around the world.

8. The worsening climate crisis is resulting in extreme weather events that force people into displacement in their own countries

9. In 2021 alone, 23 million people were displaced within their own countries by extreme weather events like floods, storms and droughts. 85% forced to flee are already living in places that are on the front lines of the global crisis.

If you would like to learn more, or are able to give any amount you can, please click here to make a life-saving donation to USA for UNHCR. Thank you so much for reading.

(Above photo via USA for UNHCR’s Instagram)