Images of Aylan Kurdi lying lifeless on a Turkish beach haunted the world four years ago. The photo of a dead child sparked outrage and empathy towards refugees trying to escape conflict in their war-torn countries. For thousands of refugees, the journey by sea or land in search of a safe place, met a tragic end.
A dramatic rise in public concern for millions of displaced people created by conflict was witnessed on social media, and sometimes on ground too, trying to a find a solution to the humanitarian crisis.
But, that has become a thing of the past.?
Political parties and right-wing dominance have seized political discourse in most part of the world, and public perception has taken a grim turn.
More than 70 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to violent conflict or persecution, report released by United Nations has said.?
As world observes International Refugee Day on June 20, the global migrant crisis has pushed the number of refugees and displaced people to an all-time high.
The world's displaced population is now almost double that from a decade ago, and includes an estimated 13.6 million people who fled their homes in 2018, according to the UN Refugee Agency's annual Global Trends Report.
AFP
It is a rise of 2.3 million on last year¡¯s figure, and includes 25.9 million refugees -- also the highest number ever recorded. The figure for 2018 was 68 million.
On an average, 37,000 people are forced to flee from their homes and one in every 108 people is now displaced.
More than two-thirds of refugees came from just five nations: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia. An additional 41.3 million people globally were displaced within their own countries, and 3.5 million were recorded as asylum seekers.
A survey by global research firm Ipsos found contradictory trends among Indians as far as their perception towards refugees is concerned.
AFP
The survey revealed that while 65 per cent Indians are sympathetic to the idea of sheltering those displaced by war and conflict in other countries, 64 per cent of Indians agreed that the country must close its borders to refugees entirely. They believe refugees come for non-genuine reasons.
The figure of 64 per cent is the highest among the 26 countries surveyed.
The growth in displacement continues to exceed the rate at which solutions are being found for the people who become displaced. From government to people, we must play a part in easing world¡¯s suffering to make it a better place for all.?