Escalating Displacement Crisis: UNHCR Chief's Urgent Call for Action

Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency, highlighted worsening displacement crises in Lebanon and Sudan, emphasizing that tighter border controls are ineffective and often illegal. Grandi urged leaders to address root causes of the crises. He criticized attempts to externalize asylum processes and called for increased support for refugees.

At the UNHCR's annual meeting in Geneva, Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN refugee agency, expressed deep concern over the aggravating displacement crises in Lebanon and Sudan.

He emphasized that focusing solely on border restrictions is not a viable solution, as these measures are often ineffective and occasionally violate international law. Instead, Grandi urged global leaders to tackle the underlying causes of displacement, including conflicts, poverty, and climate change.

Without identifying specific nations, Grandi criticized strategies to outsource or suspend asylum schemes, reaffirming their non-compliance with international law. With the number of displaced people worldwide now exceeding 123 million, Grandi called for collaborative efforts to develop fair and lawful asylum processes.

(With inputs from agencies.)