Brussels, Belgium, 18 June 2021 — The International Rescue Committee responds to UNHCR's latest displacement figures from its Global Trends report, which reveal that the number of people fleeing wars, persecution and human rights violations rose by 4% last year - from 79.5 million in 2019 to nearly 82.4 million in 2020.
David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said:
“The record numbers - nearly 82.4 million people - forced to flee their homes in 2020 should be a wake up call for the international community. The triple threat of conflict, climate change and COVID-19 continues to destroy lives and livelihoods, demanding a truly global response. As one of the world’s wealthiest and most stable regions, the EU can and must be at the forefront of these efforts.
“The EU and its member states should take immediate action to protect people on the move - shifting their focus from preventing people from reaching Europe, to keeping them safe before departure, throughout their journeys and into their country of arrival. As the death toll in the Mediterranean continues to mount, it’s imperative that the EU creates more safe, legal pathways to protection in Europe - member states must finally deliver on their resettlement promises for 2020 and commit to bold, new pledges for 2022.
“It’s been almost a year since the EU Pact of Migration and Asylum was launched but - so far - this has done little to help people seeking protection in Europe. It’s time to end the ongoing political stalemate, for instance by moving forward on elements where agreement has already been reached - such as a new EU-wide framework for resettlement that could represent a lifeline for the most vulnerable. It’s critical that the EU forges a fresh path towards a fair, sustainable system that has people, not borders, at its heart.
“The stark reality is that If Europe fails to take responsibility and step up to its global leadership role, we are likely to see an even more desperate picture next year.”