Thousands of U.N. officials, politicians, aid and business groups gather in Geneva to address the global displacement crisis. The U.N. refugee agency is striving to challenge the growing Western narrative that portrays refugees as a danger. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi emphasized the urgency of the situation, as 114 million people worldwide have been forced from their homes, including 40 million refugees fleeing active conflicts in regions such as Sudan and Ukraine.
Grandi expressed concern over the declining reception of refugees by some Western politicians, stating that fear-based narratives are gaining popularity, but they do not solve the problem. He stressed the importance of implementing more complex and comprehensive solutions that prioritize system improvement and refugee integration.
Although Grandi did not explicitly name the countries with concerning refugee policies, he has been critical of Britain’s plan to deport migrants to Rwanda and has advocated for improving U.S. refugee policies in the past. UNHCR is convening the Global Refugee Forum every four years to promote equitable sharing of responsibilities for refugees.
The Geneva event, which is expected to draw over 4,000 participants including heads of state and foreign affairs ministers, aims to address key objectives such as alleviating pressure on host communities, promoting self-reliance for refugees, and creating conditions for voluntary repatriation. Arafat Jamal, UNHCR event coordinator, emphasized the need to prioritize finding lasting solutions over temporary celebrations for refugees and host countries.
Attendees are anticipated to make pledges on specific issues like education, with the current enrollment of refugee children in school standing at only 60%. Grandi also hopes for funding pledges to address UNHCR’s $400 million shortfall for 2023 and expressed uncertainty about the future financial contributions from major donors like the United States and Germany in 2024.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of shedding light on overlooked crises, such as the situation in Sudan, where over 1.1 million people have fled in 2023 amid reports of war crimes. The event also aims to promote efforts towards long-term solutions alongside short-term support for refugees and their host communities. The crisis demands comprehensive, sustainable responses that address the needs of those forcibly displaced around the world.
(Additional reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Alison Williams)
