UN: Number of forcibly displaced to surpass record 60 million this yearDecember 19, 2015 - 11:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The number of forcibly displaced people worldwide will "far surpass" a record 60 million this year, the UN says, according to BBC News. The report by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said "one in every 122 humans is today someone who has been forced to flee their homes." The figure includes 20.2 million refugees, the highest total since 1992, the UNHCR added. The numbers were mainly driven by the Syrian war, conflict in Ukraine and other protracted conflicts, it said. The report is based on figures from the first half of 2015. Violence in Afghanistan, Somalia and South Sudan also sparked large refugee movements, as well as fighting in Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq. Asylum applications had risen 78% over the same period in 2014, while the numbers of internally displaced people reached an estimated 34 million. The number of refugees rose by 839,000 in the first six months of 2015 - or almost 4,600 people on average every day. "Forced displacement is now profoundly affecting our times," UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres said in a statement. "Never has there been a greater need for tolerance, compassion and solidarity with people who have lost everything." Developing countries bordering conflict zones still host the biggest share of the refugees, the report said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |