A young Syrian refugee looks up as her father holds her and a Canadian
flag at the as they arrive at Pearson Toronto International Airport in
Mississauga, Ontario, December 18, 2015. |
Europe has seen nearly 900,000 refugees and migrants so far this year, about half of them Syrians fleeing war in their homeland, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said earlier this month.
The number of migrants around the world will no doubt rise, fueled by economic disparities, globalized markets and people seeking better lives, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said presenting the report.
He called for stronger efforts to protect people undertaking dangerous journeys as they flee their homes, and efforts to fight migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
He also said migrants should not be victimized nor made into scapegoats.
"The many stories of their resilience, strength and heroism are too often eclipsed by xenophobia and pervasive anti-migrant sentiments," Eliasson said.
Two thirds of all international migrants live in just 20 countries, the report said.
The largest number, 47 million, live in the United States, followed by 12 million in Germany, 12 million in Russia and 10 million in Saudi Arabia, it said.
India had the largest diaspora, with 16 million people who had been born there living elsewhere, followed by Mexico, Russia and China, it said.
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