This year’s World Refugee Day, observed on 20 June, comes against a backdrop of alarming statistics: according to the UN, the number of people forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, and hunger has reached a record 120 million.
At the same time, global humanitarian aid funding is shrinking. One key reason, experts say, is a reduction in support from the United States, which previously accounted for around 45% of total global humanitarian assistance.
Council of Europe President Alain Berset emphasized that protecting refugees is not only a moral duty but also a legal obligation enshrined in international and European law.
The drop in aid funding has raised concerns among international humanitarian organizations. Handicap International warned that after a 10% decrease in 2023, further cuts are expected in 2025 and 2026.
Africa remains one of the largest regions of refugee reception. Uganda currently hosts over 1.7 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia. In 2024, Chad became the continent’s second-largest host country, with over 1.2 million refugees, mostly fleeing the war in Sudan.
According to the UN, more than half of all refugees are children — many of whom face violence, hunger, and lack of access to education.
A UN report published yesterday recorded a historic high of grave violations against children in armed conflict — 41,370 incidents since the beginning of 2024. The most affected regions include Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti.
