Refugees return in record count; Displacement reverses in 10 years

KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Acting head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Kuwait Iman Al-Ainawi confirmed that the latest Global Trends report issued by the UNHCR showed a decline in forced displacement worldwide for the first time in 10 years. In a press statement, Al-Ainawi disclosed that according to the report, 5.4 million people were forced to flee violence and persecution in 2025, seeking safety outside their countries. The same year witnessed a remarkable acceleration in the pace of refugee returns, as 14.7 million forcibly displaced people returned to their areas or countries of origin, including 4.4 million refugees and 10.3 million internally displaced persons. Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria recorded the highest return rates. She added that the data showed three percent decrease in the number of refugees worldwide in 2025, reaching 41.6 million, while about 46,000 stateless persons acquired citizenship in their host countries during the past year.

She continued “the State of Kuwait is a living example in terms of supporting refugees, as it has been keen on finding lasting and peaceful solutions for refugees around the world and to affirm its solidarity with humanitarian causes through its generous contributions and continuous support.” She explained that about 70 percent of refugees have been living outside their homelands for many years, while a large number of them live below the poverty line. This highlights the need for solutions that go beyond traditional humanitarian aid and give refugees a real opportunity for self-reliance and rebuilding their lives. She pointed out that the UNHCR has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing the number of refugees suffering from protracted displacement and dependent on humanitarian aid by more than half in the next ten years. She stressed the need to expand resettlement programs, family reunification, and provide educational and employment opportunities for refugees in third countries. She added that the number of beneficiaries of resettlement and sponsorship programs decreased by more than half in 2025, compared to the previous year, reaching only 81,800 refugees.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff