UN Chief Urges Global Unity on Refugee Crisis Amidst Growing Displacement

Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, calls on nations to cease border blockades against refugees, emphasizing their ineffectiveness and legal issues. With over 123 million globally displaced, he stresses the importance of addressing root causes and improving asylum processes, highlighting the dire needs of Sudanese refugees.

The head of the United Nations refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, appealed on Monday for nations to dismantle border barriers against refugees and migrants, labeling such measures as ineffective and potentially unlawful.

Speaking before over 100 diplomats and ministers at an annual meeting in Geneva, Grandi highlighted that a staggering 123 million people are displaced globally. He urged countries not to concentrate solely on border protection but to consider why individuals are compelled to leave their homes.

He underscored the need for addressing the fundamental causes of displacement and finding viable solutions, cautioning that outsourcing or suspending asylum processes violates international laws. Grandi also called for increased aid for Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict, warning of the potential for wider displacement.

(With inputs from agencies.)