World leaders have been blamed for the shameful neglect of millions of refugees.
Calling the situation the worst displacement crisis since WWII, Amnesty International´s report said thousands have died trying to flee wars in the Middle East and Africa.
Amnesty estimated the number of displaced people globally to be above 50 million, many of them being still within their own countries.
“We are witnessing the worst refugee crisis of our era, with millions of women, men and children struggling to survive amidst brutal wars, networks of people traffickers and governments who pursue selfish political interests instead of showing basic human compassion,” Amnesty said.
“The refugee crisis is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, but the response of the international community has been a shameful failure.”
It documented at least 4 million people displaced from Syria, 95% of whom have been taken in by neighbouring countries. In Lebanon, the refugees now make up 20% of the population, the equivalent of the UK accepting almost 13 million people.
Lebanon has had to stop allowing new refugees in, despite no solution to Syria being in sight. Border guards in Turkey used water canon over the weekend to push desperate refugees back into Syria where they face the wrath of ISIS.
Countries which have taken in refugees have “almost no meaningful international support” as the UN humanitarian appeal for refugee care raised less than 25% of necessary funds.
In sub-Saharan Africa an estimated 3 million people are refugees, fleeing wars in Nigeria, Sudan, the Central African Republic and Burundi in recent years. Amnesty criticised the international community again for failing to help this displacement crisis.
Refugee numbers and deaths are starting to mount now in southeast Asia.
Amnesty called on states to resettle 1.5 million refugees over the coming five years.
