The world is facing a refugee crisis. As conflict and natural disasters erupt across the globe, more people are being displaced than ever before.
As refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) move from their homes to find safety in new ones, they must often rebuild their lives from scratch. The process can be incredibly challenging. Many arrive with little or nothing and must learn a new language. They must build new relationships and support networks. They must access housing, jobs and education for their children. They must also integrate into local communities and contribute to the economy.
Whether refugees are living in their home countries or seeking a new start elsewhere, they need to be able to meet their basic needs, protect themselves from violence and find work. But the current system is facing a number of challenges, including backlogs and long delays in gaining legal status. There are obstacles at the international, national, and local levels.
In addition to the physical and logistical challenges, refugees and asylum seekers face the threat of exploitation, abuse, and death. Some are targeted for their political beliefs or perceived links to terrorist groups. Others may become victims of trafficking gangs that profit from their vulnerability. And many host governments fear destabilization and reduce refugee protections, especially if the refugees share ethnic or religious characteristics with populations that are at risk of conflict.
The world must create a more robust and equitable system that allows refugees to rebuild their lives with security, dignity and hope. It must combat all forms of xenophobia and racial discrimination, which are a direct threat to everyone’s safety.