Refugee

A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their home country because of persecution, war, or violence, and who is unable to return due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted on the basis of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Refugees often face significant challenges in their new countries, including poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to education and healthcare. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there were approximately 70.8 million forcibly displaced people in the world in 2019, including 25.9 million refugees. The UNHCR is the UN agency responsible for protecting and assisting refugees, as well as finding durable solutions to their plight.

The term “displaced person” is more accurate, as a person may be unable to return to their home area.

Displaced persons may be internally displaced, meaning they have been forced to flee their homes but remain within their country, or they may be externally displaced, meaning they have been forced to flee their country and seek refuge in another country. Displaced persons often face significant challenges and hardships, including poverty, lack of access to basic services and opportunities, and insecurity. The United Nations has adopted several principles and guidelines to protect the rights of displaced persons and to assist them in their displacement.