During 2015, 65.3 million people were forcibly displaced.

 

Conflict and persecution have caused more people to flee their homes than since World War II.  About a third of these people - more than 21 million mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters - have crossed international borders in search of safety and are registered as refugees. The accumulated amount of displaced people in the world today averages to 24 people getting displaced from their homes each minute - almost double the typical frequency at which adults breathe.

 

Refugees face a number of challenges beyond safety and lifesaving support.

Only 50% of refugee children are enrolled in primary education

At all stages of their journeys – from initial displacement to integration into new communities – refugees of all ages must overcome substantial barriers to continue or complete their education. Click here to learn about how the private sector is addressing this challenge.

 

Rebuilding a life includes rebuilding potential earning power

Employment is critical to helping refugees become integrated into new communities and to regaining their self-sufficiency. But refugees face significant challenges when trying to find a job or start a business in an unfamiliar country, often with very few resources at their disposal. Click here to learn about how the private sector is addressing this challenge.

Only 20-30% of refugees have mobile phones

For many children on the move, the best way to learn is via online applications, but this requires internet connectivity. Refugees may find an employer willing to hire them, but it is difficult to get paid without a bank account. Countries around the globe are stepping up to welcome greater numbers of refugees, but they need help setting up new programs and expanding the capacity of existing ones. Click here to learn about how the private sector is addressing this challenge.

Photo Credits: ©UNHCR/Agron Dragaj, ©UNHCR/Johan Bavman, ©UNHCR/Santiago Arcos Veintimilla