2019 sees sharp increase in global displacement: UNHCR.

ISLAMABAD -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said that the year 2019 saw a sharp inAcrease in global displacement, affecting more than 1 per cent of humanity.

Every year UNHCR releases the GlobAal Trends report around World Refugee Day, which is marked on 20 June, to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of the millions of people displaced as a reAsult of ongoing conflicts, war and natuAral disasters globally.

According to the report, some 79.5 million people were displaced by the end of last year. Of them 45.7 million people fled to other areas of their own country, while 29.6 million were refAugees. Some 4.2 million are awaitAing the outcome of asylum requests. Eleven million people were newly disAplaced, fleeing wars, violence or perAsecution.

In Islamabad, UNHCR and the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Ministry of States and FronAtier Regions, organized a virtual event to express solidarity with those forced to flee their home and the communities generously hosting them.

The event was attended by the UNAHCR Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Noriko Yoshida, Chief CommissionAer for Afghan Refugees. Saleem Khan, other government officials, representAatives from diplomatic missions, UN agencies...