WUNRN
UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency
2008 GLOBAL TRENDS REPORT: REFUGEES,
ASYLUM-SEEKERS,
RETURNEES, INTERNALLY DISPLACED,
& STATELESS PERSONS
CONSIDER FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally
Displaced and Stateless Persons, 16 June 2009. Annexes
(Excel tables) available for downloading here (zipped format, 651Mb)
The 21-page report reflects many of the major
humanitarian developments between January and December 2008. It analyses the
statistical trends and changes in the global populations of concern to UNHCR,
i.e. refugees, returnees, stateless persons and certain groups of internally
displaced persons (IDPs).
Some of the key findings of the report:
- There were 42 million forcibly displaced people worldwide at the end of 2008.
This includes 15.2 million refugees, 827,000 asylum-seekers (pending cases) and
26 million internally displaced persons.
- Nearly 25 million people - 10.5 million refugees and
14.4 million IDPs - were receiving protection or assistance from UNHCR at the
end of 2008.
- UNHCR identified some 6.6 million stateless persons
in 58 countries. The Office estimated that the overall number of stateless
persons worldwide was far higher, about 12 million people.
- Some 604,000 refugees repatriated voluntarily
during 2008, the second-lowest figure in 15 years.
- UNHCR presented 121,000 refugees for resettlement
consideration by States. More than 67,000 refugees were resettled with UNHCR's
assistance during 2008. According to Government statistics, 16 countries
reported the admission of 88,800 resettled refugees during the year.
- More than 839,000 people submitted an individual
application for asylum or refugee status in 2008. South Africa was the largest
recipient with 207,000 claims received. Some 16,300 asylum applications were
lodged by unaccompanied and separated children in 68 countries.
- Developing countries are host to four fifths of the
world's refugees.
- Pakistan is host to the largest number of refugees
worldwide (1.8 million), followed by the Syrian Arab Republic (1.1 million) and
the Islamic Republic of Iran (980,000).
- One out of four refugees in the world is from
Afghanistan (2.8 million) and Afghans are located in 69 different asylum
countries.Iraqis are the second largest refugee group, with 1.9 million having
sought refuge mainly in neighbouring countries.
================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com.
Thank you.