Seven out of 10 refugees are living in protracted displacement, and the United Nations is calling for enhanced solutions

The report indicated that 5.4 million people were forced to flee violence and persecution and seek refuge in other countries in 2025.

However, it showed that the pace of returns is also accelerating, as 14.7 million forcibly displaced people returned to their regions or countries of origin in the same year (including 4.4 million refugees and 10.3 million internally displaced people), with a sharp increase in Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria.

The return of refugees was the second highest rate since records began 60 years ago, although many of them returned under certain pressure and under difficult living conditions.

The press release issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in this regard indicated that the data showed a decrease in the number of refugees around the world in 2025 by 3%, reaching 41.6 million refugees.

In a positive development, nearly 46,000 stateless people obtained citizenship in 24 countries during the past year.

With 70% of refugees having been outside their countries for years, and many of them living below the poverty line, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih urged the international community to “Supporting a new initiative to lift millions out of long-term displacement and dependence on humanitarian aid.”.

Saleh said that for many refugees, displacement begins as a lifeline, but continues for life. He added that “Humanitarian aid saves lives, but it is not the end goal, and it does not enable refugees to become active in determining their future. We need a paradigm shift that brings a new sense of hope and opportunity to people fleeing war and persecution.”

The initiative calls on governments, humanitarian and development actors, the private sector and civil society to intensify efforts to empower refugees, while preserving the right to asylum and protection, which is more important than ever as 2026 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

The High Commissioner indicated that voluntary return is the ideal solution. Finding solutions to a number of the world’s major conflicts would enable millions of refugees to return in safety and dignity.

Another key pillar of achieving this goal is the integration of refugees into national systems: education, health care, financial services, and the labor market.

This enables them to generate income and contribute to local and national economies. This requires much greater investment from a wide range of partners to reach host countries under significant pressure.

Saleh concluded by saying that there is an urgent need for more solutions to the refugee crisis abroad, such as resettlement of the most vulnerable cases, family reunification, and providing opportunities to obtain work permits and scholarships.

The Refugee Commissioner said: “Asylum and protection are life-saving matters that are beyond discussion, but we cannot accept a future in which millions of refugees remain stranded for years or decades without realistic prospects for rebuilding their lives.”