Armed conflicts and persecution have forced 65.3 million people to leave their homes
As reported by Deutsche Welle, according to UN estimates, currently about 21.3 million people have fled to other countries, 40.8 million are internally displaced within their own countries. Another 3.2 million people outside their homeland are awaiting decisions on their asylum applications.
At the same time, various risks on their escape routes have multiplied for refugees, notes UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi. "A terrifying number of people are drowning at sea, and land routes are blocked because of closed borders," Grandi said.
For more on the refugee situation worldwide, read the article REFUGEES: JUST THE FACTS