Conflicts in Syria, central Africa and South Sudan drove the sharp increase. Added to that, the UN estimates there are now 33.3 million internally displaced people. Link to the BBC News item.
I sit and read about the shocking figures in human conditions, impotent. I've lived a good, and long life without the need to fight for existence. But others are not so lucky.
Added to the increase in world conflicts, the old struggles never seem to pass away. Thousands of refugees from almost forgotten crises have spent the best part of their lives in camps.
An estimated 6.3 million people have been refugees for years, sometimes even decades. The burden of caring for displaced people and refugees is increasingly falling on the countries with the least resources.
Around the world, thousands of refugees from almost forgotten crises have spent the best part of their lives in camps. Many Burmese people have lived in refugee camps for more than 20 years.
The UN refugee agency admits some settlements have become virtually permanent, with their own schools, hospitals, and businesses. However, they are not, and can never be, home.
But the world's refugees are far outnumbered by people who have been forced to flee their homes, but remain inside their own countries.
Why is the world becoming more violent? Why are more people being forced to flee? And worst of all, how can humanitarian organizations cope?
There is no solution. Innocent people are suffering, fleeing, leaving their home and country, and so many are dying. My heart goes out to them, but I am powerless to help. 'But for the grace of God, there go I'. Any one of us could have been born into those circumstances.
From Desiderata: 'No doubt, things are unfolding as they should'. This brings into question the theory of karma. I don't pretend to know how the Universal Law works. But I hope there is some underlying reason for the way events play out on the stage of life.