Providing the bare necessities is one thing, but addressing the deeper issues that are leading to displacement – including conflict, poverty, climate change and lack of acceptance – is a challenge on a different scale. This is particularly true as displaced people are often hosted in neighbouring countries that themselves are prone to violence and instability.
This is why a strong and predictable international response is critical. It must include UNHCR, which is focused on protection and humanitarian assistance in refugee situations, alongside the World Bank, which invests in long-term development. They should join forces throughout a refugee crisis, from its onset to its resolution. The end goal should always be to create conditions allowing refugees to return home voluntarily and safely.
Large populations of displaced people require substantial financial and material support, which can be a strain on host states and the wider global community. This is particularly true for developing countries. Moreover, sizeable refugee populations can exacerbate political, ethnic or religious tensions within host communities and between them and their sending states. And refugees may be vulnerable to exploitation in the informal economy or the criminal networks they may be part of.
At the same time, many of those who are most vulnerable are women and children. This is why ensuring refugee-friendly policies are in place to address their specific needs, including addressing gender-based violence, is so important. This should also apply to internally displaced persons (IDPs), who do not qualify for legal protection under the Geneva Convention and instead live under the jurisdiction of their host country’s government.