20 January 2016: The number of international migrants worldwide reached 244 million in 2015, of which 20 million were recognized as refugees, according to figures from the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Two other UN reports released in January highlight the urgent needs of women and girls on the move in Europe, and of children in conflict-affected areas, particularly in parts of Africa.

The UN dataset, ‘Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 Revision,’ shows that migrants made up 3.3% of the world’s population in 2015, an increase of 2.8% in 2000. The data show an increase of 41% in the world’s migrant population since 2000. Two out of three international migrants lived in Europe or Asia, and almost half of all international migrants worldwide were born in Asia. India contributed the largest number of migrants (16 million), followed by Mexico (12 million), the Russian Federation (11 million) and China (10 million). Many migrants also originated from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ukraine.

In an interview with the UN News Centre, Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), calls for solidarity with refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and stateless people to fulfill the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of “no one left behind.” He notes that, while UNHCR has appealed for funding of almost US$8 billion for the Syrian crisis, the needs have multiplied beyond that level. He encourages effective mechanisms to solve conflicts, and innovation in caring for victims of conflicts to make best use of scarce resources.

A joint study by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNHCR and the Women’s Refugee Commission highlights concern about the safety and wellbeing of mothers, young women and children on the move in Europe. The 20 January 2016 report, titled ‘Initial Assessment Report: Protection Risks for Women and Girls in the European Refugee and Migrant Crisis,’ is focused on refugee and migrant women in Greece and the former Yugoslave Republic of Macedonia. The authors find that that women travelling alone or with children, pregnant or lactating women, adolescent girls, unaccompanied children and early-married children are at particular risk. Women and girls face sexual violence, lack adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and are often reluctant to avail themselves of healthcare facilities even when available, due to the urgency of completing their journeys.

In a separate report, issued on 12 January, UNICEF finds that one in four children in conflict-affected areas are being deprived of the chance for education. The Fund calls for prioritizing the provision of education in emergencies, highlighting the role of schools not only in providing learning opportunities but also in creating safe zones for children and helping communities prepare for future rebuilding efforts. UNICEF reports that the needs are most acute in South Sudan, Niger, Sudan and Afghanistan, in that order, with 41-50% of children in those areas not having the chance to go to school. [International Migration Stock: The 2015 Revision] [UNRIC Press Release] [Interview with Filippo Grandi] [Publication: Initial Assessment Report: Protection Risks for Women and Girls in the European Refugee and Migrant Crisis] [ReliefWeb Press Release] [UNICEF Press Release]