By News room
The number of people fleeing war, violence and persecution around the world is said to have hit a new record of 65.6 million by the end of last year, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency – UNHCR report released this morning.
The figure comprises refugee numbers, which stands at 22.5 million, internal displacement- stands at 40.3 million people while the asylum seekers are 2.8 million people which figures are the highest ever seen in history and 84 percent of these are in low- or middle-income countries.
4.9 million People are being hosted by the least developed countries with Uganda ranked among the top refugee hosting countries in Africa with a double figure of hosted refugees from 500,000 to now over 1.2 million refugees with children suffering a greater burden due to their vulnerability.
The UNHCR’s Spokesperson William Spindler observes that helping low and middle-income countries that shelter the majority of the vulnerable groups is a key priority.
The report is released just two days to the Uganda Solidarity Summit on Refugees convened and jointly hosted by President Yoweri Museveni and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Kampala from the 22-23 this month, and aims at raising USD 2 billion t to support and strengthen Uganda’s progressive and transformative approach to refugee protection as confirmed by the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda.
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