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| 'Iraq drives' global refugee rise | 'Iraq drives' global refugee rise |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The number of refugees worldwide has risen for the first time in five years, largely because of violence in Iraq, according to a United Nations report. | The number of refugees worldwide has risen for the first time in five years, largely because of violence in Iraq, according to a United Nations report. |
| The total number of refugees rose by more than 14% last year to nearly 10 million, the UN refugee agency says. | The total number of refugees rose by more than 14% last year to nearly 10 million, the UN refugee agency says. |
| The number of internally displaced people also reached a record high of almost 13 million, the report says. | The number of internally displaced people also reached a record high of almost 13 million, the report says. |
| Besides Iraq, conflicts in Lebanon, East Timor, Sudan and Sri Lanka were blamed for the rise in refugee numbers. | Besides Iraq, conflicts in Lebanon, East Timor, Sudan and Sri Lanka were blamed for the rise in refugee numbers. |
| The figures released by the UN do not include some 4.3m Palestinians (including those born in exile) displaced since 1948 as a result of the conflict with Israel. | |
| The current total is the highest since 2002, when the UN reported there were 10.6m refugees worldwide. | The current total is the highest since 2002, when the UN reported there were 10.6m refugees worldwide. |
| "For the first time since 2002, a declining trend in the global figures was reversed," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' report, 2006 Global Trends, said. | "For the first time since 2002, a declining trend in the global figures was reversed," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' report, 2006 Global Trends, said. |
| Constraints | Constraints |
| The UN said the world had 9.9m refugees at the end of 2006 - a rise of 1.2m or 14% - from the total of 8.7m recorded at the end of 2005. | The UN said the world had 9.9m refugees at the end of 2006 - a rise of 1.2m or 14% - from the total of 8.7m recorded at the end of 2005. |
| Our desperation is nothing next to that of the millions of victims of forced displacement Antonio GuterresUN High Commissioner for Refugees | Our desperation is nothing next to that of the millions of victims of forced displacement Antonio GuterresUN High Commissioner for Refugees |
| The report said the conflict in Iraq was largely responsible for the rise. | The report said the conflict in Iraq was largely responsible for the rise. |
| Some 1.5m Iraqis are now estimated to be living as refugees in other countries, mostly neighbouring Syria and Jordan. | Some 1.5m Iraqis are now estimated to be living as refugees in other countries, mostly neighbouring Syria and Jordan. |
| They form the world's second-largest group of refugees after Afghans, 2.1m of whom are said to be still living outside their homeland. | They form the world's second-largest group of refugees after Afghans, 2.1m of whom are said to be still living outside their homeland. |
| Among the other notable refugee populations listed in the report were 686,000 Sudanese, 460,000 Somalis and roughly 400,000 people each from DR Congo and Burundi. | Among the other notable refugee populations listed in the report were 686,000 Sudanese, 460,000 Somalis and roughly 400,000 people each from DR Congo and Burundi. |
| The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, said his organisation must work hard to adapt to the rise in refugee numbers. | The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, said his organisation must work hard to adapt to the rise in refugee numbers. |
| Millions of Iraqis have fled to neighbouring Jordan and Syria | Millions of Iraqis have fled to neighbouring Jordan and Syria |
| "As the number of those uprooted by persecution, intolerance and violence around the world increases, we must face the challenges and demands of a changing world," he said. | "As the number of those uprooted by persecution, intolerance and violence around the world increases, we must face the challenges and demands of a changing world," he said. |
| "We are part of the collective response by the UN system and the broader humanitarian community to the plight of the internally displaced." | "We are part of the collective response by the UN system and the broader humanitarian community to the plight of the internally displaced." |
| But, he said, his organisation's role was "severely constrained" when faced with conflicts such as that in Sudan's Darfur region. | But, he said, his organisation's role was "severely constrained" when faced with conflicts such as that in Sudan's Darfur region. |
| "That may seem intolerable, yet our desperation is nothing next to that of the millions of victims of forced displacement," he added. | "That may seem intolerable, yet our desperation is nothing next to that of the millions of victims of forced displacement," he added. |
| Internally displaced | Internally displaced |
| The UN report also revealed that the number of people who were internally displaced - but not classed as refugees under international law - rose over the last year to 24.5 million. | The UN report also revealed that the number of people who were internally displaced - but not classed as refugees under international law - rose over the last year to 24.5 million. |
| The conflict in Iraq is again believed to be one of the prime factors behind the reported rise in internally displaced people. | The conflict in Iraq is again believed to be one of the prime factors behind the reported rise in internally displaced people. |
| Some 2.3m Iraqis are believed to be displaced within their country, according to latest UNHCR figures not cited in this report. | Some 2.3m Iraqis are believed to be displaced within their country, according to latest UNHCR figures not cited in this report. |
| Some 32.9m people are classed by the report as "persons of concern" - a category that includes those who are returnees, stateless or internally displaced. | Some 32.9m people are classed by the report as "persons of concern" - a category that includes those who are returnees, stateless or internally displaced. |
| This figure marks a 56% increase on the figure for the previous year. | This figure marks a 56% increase on the figure for the previous year. |