Gunhild Forselv (20.06.2011)
Last year, 43.7 million people were displaced from war and conflict, the highest number ever recorded in this millennium. The global number of displaced continues to increase, indicating that the international community still has a long way to go in solving the world’s displacement crisis.
The 2010 figure includes 27.5 million internally displaced and 16.2 million refugees. At the same time as the number of displaced has increased, the number of asylum seekers in Europe decreased with 6 percent in 2010 compared to the year before.
”The increase is primarily a result of old, protracted conflicts. A lack of political will and respect for international humanitarian law combined with the United Nation’s humanitarian appeals generally being underfunded, has worsened the situation for many displaced who are denied access to legally entitled and life-saving protection”, says Elisabeth Rasmusson, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The number of internally displaced is now close to twice as high as the number of refugees, and the gap is widening. The reason for this development is primarily the increase in civil strife and a decrease in the cases of classical interstate conflicts. Half of the world’s internally displaced live in five countries: Colombia, Sudan, Iraq, DR Congo and Somalia.
At the same time as the number of displaced has increased, in 2010 Europe worked hard on tightening its borders.
“The current sole focus on limiting the number of asylum seekers into Europe rather than seeking common, long-term solutions is worrying because it may cause situations where people who needs protection, do not get access to it. African refugees are now forced to seek illegal and hazardous ways of seeking protection in Europe. Sixteen hundred people have lost their lives so far in trying to reach the continent from Libya by boat. European leaders must bring the Refugee Convention and humanitarian laws back to the table when they carve out Europe’s refugee politics”, says Rasmusson.