Without Home or Country: The plight of refugees worldwide

There are more than ten million refugees in the world today--up from 8.4 million in 2006--people who have been subjected to so much violence or persecution in their homeland that the only option they see is to flee what is comfortable and familiar. Trying to rebuild their lives in a strange new country, many wind up living in tents in crowded camps, without sufficient food, water, healthcare, and education. And in many places, violence and fighting continue to threaten their lives, even in exile.

Like refugees, internally displaced persons (IDP’s) are forced to leave their homes because of persecution, but unlike refugees, they often seek sanctuary in more secure parts of their own countries. They, too, are vulnerable to extreme poverty and brutal suppression, but because they have not crossed an international frontier, they are often beyond the reach of international humanitarian assistance.

In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20th, International Medical Corps spotlights the struggles of refugees and IDPs, as well as the many ways in which we are working to help maintain their health and well-being around the world.

READ MORE:

Making a Difference in the Triangle of Violence and Displacement

Coming Home to Afghanistan

Through the Eyes of Children: Refugee Life in Pictures