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Every year millions of refugees abandon their native lands. But the number of internally displaced people—those who leave their home yet remain inside their nation—is even greater and is rising fast (A). In 2015 alone, 28 million individuals were forced to make such a move (B). Ironically, many countries will protect and assist refugees who cross into their territory but give no help to people who migrate internally in response to violence, natural and man-made disasters, or evolving crises such as drought. The migrants may live under terrible conditions for years. By highlighting this disturbing trend, international agencies hope that aid to them will improve.
Credit: Tiffany Farrant-Gonzalez; SOURCES: U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (total refugee data); GLOBAL REPORT ON INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT, BY ALEXANDRA BILAK ET AL. INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT MONITORING CENTER, MAY 2016 (internally displaced people data)
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