Refugee numbers in Africa fell for the first time in a decade, the UN reported Thursday. The total dropped by 135,000 people to 6.9 million. Peace deals in Sudan and Ethiopia allowed many to return home. Nearly seven million people remain displaced across 25 nations.
Refugee count falls across Africa
Global forced displacement in Africa fell for the first time in ten years, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported Thursday. The agency said the total refugee population on the continent dropped by 135,000 people in 2023, the UN news service[1] confirmed.
This decline brings the total number of refugees to 6.9 million, down from 7.04 million the previous year. The report attributes the drop primarily to large-scale returns of refugees from Sudan and Ethiopia following peace agreements. Sudanese refugees returning home accounted for the majority of the decrease as conflict zones stabilized temporarily.
New displacements from ongoing conflicts in the Sahel and parts of the Horn of Africa offset some of these gains. Intersecting factors of conflict, climate change, weak governance, and poverty continued to drive migration across the region last year, a migration monitor[2] noted. The organization stated that the net reduction does not reflect an end to the broader humanitarian crisis.
The UNHCR noted that while returns occurred, many refugees still face safety risks upon crossing borders. Increasing securitisation of migration within Africa has resulted in greater risks for migrants and refugees, the same report[2] detailed.
Millions remain trapped in displacement
Six million nine hundred thousand people remain stuck in camps or cities across 25 African nations, the UNHCR report confirmed the UN refugee agency[1]. Over half of these individuals have fled their homes for more than five years. Host countries like Uganda, Chad and Sudan shelter the largest groups of displaced families today.
Funding shortages leave the UNHCR with less than half the budget needed for emergency aid, officials said. Climate shocks and food insecurity now drive millions of new internal displacements that complicate any return plans. Asylum seekers in Egypt and South Africa face years of legal limbo without access to work permits, the report detailed.
Women and children make up nearly two-thirds of the refugee population and face heightened protection risks. The UNHCR warned this drop in numbers remains fragile and could reverse if current peace deals collapse the agency stated[1]. Internal displacement figures rose by 2.1 million, showing movement within borders stays a primary challenge.
Families face uncertain future in camps
Families in major camps like Kakuma and Dadaab now receive reduced food rations. This cut stems from a severe shortage of donor funding. The UNHCR warned that healthcare and education services will shrink further without new support the agency stated[1].
Local communities in host regions feel the strain as global attention shifts elsewhere. Resources in these areas are stretched thin by the prolonged presence of displaced people. When agencies reduce operations during temporary lulls, fewer resources remain available for the next surge in violence a regional report noted[2].
Voluntary repatriation programs depend entirely on sustained security conditions in countries of origin. A review of the regional response plan is set for June 15 to assess funding needs.
