Children are increasingly bearing the brunt of humanitarian and natural crises across the globe, accounting for over 40 per cent of the refugee population.
This has fuelled concerns from stakeholders looking forward to World Refugee Day (WRD) today.
Initially commemorated as Africa Refugee Day every December 4, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in Resolution 55/76 acknowledged that, from 2001, June 20 would be celebrated as World Refugee Day. The resolution saw 2001 marking the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees.
According to the recent UNHCR Global Trends 2023, at least 117.3 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes, 40 per cent of whom are under the age of 18. Among them are 43.4 million refugees, 68.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 6.9 million asylum seekers.
Sixty-nine per cent of refugees and other people in need of international protection lived in countries neighbouring their countries of origin, The Guardian gathered.
On the effect of displacement on children, the Executive Director, Centre for Individual and Child Development (CICD), Chizoba Akunne, explained that the ability of a child to absorb content makes it easy for their perceptions and dispositions to be shaped by their life experiences.
Psychologist and Founder, Idimma Health Initiative (IHI), Aisha Bubah, said war and displacement experience put children at risk of developing mental health issues like anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTD) and, in some extreme cases, other severe forms of mental illness like dissociative disorders.
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olufemi Lawal, said the solution borders significantly on peace around the world.
He explained that the trend of people seeking refuge in better economies, which is increasingly weighing negatively on host countries that are now getting tired of playing such roles, “is more common.”
Conflict Manager and International Affairs Analyst, Aladetan Abiodun, stated that the global refugee crisis demanded a multifaceted approach that would address both immediate humanitarian needs and causes.
He noted that diplomatic efforts aimed at conflict resolution and peace-building were crucial at the heart of the refugee crisis are the conflicts, climate change and crises that force people to flee their homes.
“Creating job opportunities, improving infrastructure, and enhancing education and skills training can provide people with alternatives to leaving their homes.
“Implementing robust policies to combat climate change, such as investing in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, can help prevent environmental disasters that displace communities. Building disaster resilience in vulnerable areas is also essential,” he added.
