World Refugee Day: Urgent calls made for rights and health of displaced populations
In a statement, IGAD described the region as the largest refugee-hosting area in the world, currently sheltering over six million refugees and asylum seekers, about 20 per cent of the global total.
As the world commemorates World Refugee Day, urgent calls have been made to support forcibly displaced people worldwide. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has urged greater attention to the growing refugee crisis in the Horn of Africa.
This year’s theme is “Solidarity with Refugees.”
More To Read
- UN: Don't allow Israel-Iran conflict to spark new refugee crisis
- IOM sounds alarm over suspension of life-saving transport in South Sudan
- Kenya commits to Shirika Plan on World Refugee Day amid mounting refugee hunger crisis
- IGAD calls for unified cybersecurity and AI strategy to tackle regional security challenges
- Displaced and vulnerable: The growing humanitarian crisis facing children in IGAD region
- Sudanese civilians urge UN to replace envoy amid ongoing conflict
In a statement, IGAD described the region as the largest refugee-hosting area in the world, currently sheltering over six million refugees and asylum seekers, about 20 per cent of the global total.
IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, called for decisive action to tackle what he termed one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time.
“The East and Horn of Africa alone host nearly five million refugees, with the majority of these displacements being protracted, lasting more than 15 years. These figures are not mere statistics; they represent men, women, and children who have endured unimaginable hardship and loss, yet continue to display remarkable strength, resilience, and determination to rebuild their lives,” said Dr Gebeyehu.
He identified the ongoing conflict in Sudan as a major driver of the crisis, noting that it had triggered what IGAD described as the world’s largest humanitarian emergency.
According to IGAD, more than 55 million people across its member states now require urgent food assistance.
Despite limited resources, Dr Gebeyehu commended countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia for their progressive refugee-hosting policies.
The regional body reaffirmed its commitment to long-term, sustainable solutions through frameworks such as the Nairobi Declaration and projects like the World Bank-backed Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP).
IGAD also observed that displacement in the region is increasingly driven by non-conflict factors, including drought, flooding, environmental degradation, and economic instability.
It called for more integrated approaches that combine both humanitarian aid and development programming.
Under the 2025 theme, “Solidarity with Refugees,” both IGAD and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are urging governments and partners to prioritise inclusive systems and long-term solutions for the world’s more than 123 million forcibly displaced people.
In its statement, WHO reaffirmed that health is a fundamental human right and called for stronger, more inclusive health systems that serve everyone, regardless of legal status.
The organisation noted that most refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, where financial, legal, and structural barriers often hinder access to healthcare, especially for women, children, and those experiencing protracted displacement.
“Women and newborns’ lives are at heightened risk due to disrupted maternal and essential care as access barriers increase. Importantly, refugees are not just recipients of care—they are also scientists, health workers, and leaders who enrich the social and economic fabric of both host and origin countries,” WHO said.
Reinforcing that health is essential to dignity and inclusion, WHO called for inclusive and resilient healthcare systems and urged governments and partners to take urgent, sustained steps to ensure displaced people have full access to health services.
WHO also called for evidence-based, cross-border solutions and greater investment in culturally sensitive healthcare, while warning that without renewed global commitment, progress made in integrating refugee health into national systems could be reversed.
Top Stories Today
