NEW YORK — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, issued a stark warning about the escalating global refugee crisis during a UN Security Council session on Thursday. Grandi underscored the critical need for political solutions and strict adherence to international humanitarian law to address the growing numbers of displaced persons.
According to Philippines News Agency, the count of individuals displaced by war, violence, and persecution has reached 114 million, with expectations for this number to rise in the next update. He criticized the ongoing non-compliance with international humanitarian law, highlighting the dire consequences such as civilian casualties, sexual violence, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. During his address, Grandi condemned the international community’s failure to prevent these atrocities, particularly pointing to the severe impacts in Gaza.
Grandi called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and the resumption of full humanitarian aid, noting the severe crisis in Rafah where residents face deadly attacks. He stressed the importance of protecting civilians in conflict zones, referring to distressing scenes of people trapped and often killed in war zones.
The situation in Syria also featured prominently in his remarks. Grandi emphasized the ongoing hardship faced by 5.6 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries, especially Lebanon, urging political action to mitigate their suffering.
Concluding his address, Grandi appealed to the Security Council to prioritize resolving ongoing conflicts and crises to prevent further displacement and suffering. He emphasized the importance of enabling millions of displaced individuals to return to their homes safely and with dignity, and called for renewed efforts to tackle the unresolved crises that continue to plague global stability.