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Malian refugees arrive in , UNHCR / B. MALUM exhausted and anxious. They had to travel for several days, without taking a break and to sleep or even rest.

22 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 Population Levels and Trends

N 2012, THE POPULATIONS º Refugees of concern to UNHCR witnessed dramatic changes. During the course of the year, changes in the OF ASYLUM sizes, trends, and flows of these At the end of 2012, the global number of the Democratic of the Congo Ipopulations were noticed in some coun- refugees under UNHCR’s mandate was (476,500). The and North tries more than others. This chapter estimated at 10.5 million. Outflows of hosted some 1.6 million, focuses on the magnitude and general more than 1.1 million refugees, mainly or 15 per cent of the ’s refugees, flows of refugees, asylum-seekers, re- from the Democratic Republic of the mainly from (554,500) and the Syr- turnees, stateless persons, and inter- Congo, , , , and the ian Arab Republic (442,300), while Eu- nally displaced persons (IDPs). Unless Syrian Arab Republic, stretched global rope hosted another 1.8 million (17%). In otherwise indicated, the total numbers emergency response systems for the Europe, refugees from the Syrian Arab of IDPs covered in this chapter are third year in a row. The 2012 increase, of Republic (284,400) and (and Ko- those generated exclusively by conflict a size not seen since the early 1990s, was sovo: S/RES/1244 [1999]) (155,400) were and who benefited from UNHCR’s as- partly offset by the voluntary return of the largest groups. With 806,500 refu- sistance and/or protection activities. some half a million refugees, primarily gees, the Americas region hosted the Crises in the Syrian Arab Republic, to , Côte d’Ivoire, and Iraq. smallest share of refugees (8%) globally. Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Further reductions in global refugee Here, Colombians (391,100) constituted Congo, and the Central African Re- figures resulted from the application the largest number. 23 public significantly contributed to the of the cessation clause to Angolan and Two major developments impacted higher numbers of refugee and IDP Liberian refugees across sub-Saharan refugee figures in the Middle East and populations during 2012. The crisis in Africa, 22 and from the revision of go- region. First, conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic in particular vernment estimates for Iraqi refugees the Syrian Arab Republic forced some shifted the balance of origins of refu- in and the Syrian Arab Republic. 647,000 people to seek refuge in , gees for the entire past decade. Despite the significant number of new Iraq, Jordan, , , and arrivals, the global refugee population other in the region. Second, thus grew by less than 100,000 people government estimates of Iraqi refugees compared to 2011. in the Syrian Arab Republic and Jordan Protracted Table 2.1 shows that 3.5 million refu- were revised downward to 534,400 at gees, or one third (34%) of the total, the end of 2012. This revision reflects refugee situations were residing in countries covered by that a number of Iraqis have returned UNHCR defines a protracted refugee UNHCR’s and Pacific region. Of these, 2.5 million were Afghans (70%). situation as one in which 25,000 or more refugees of 22 Some of these groups are now included in the population the same nationality have been in exile for five years or In addition, sub-Saharan Africa was category ‘Others of concern’ while UNHCR assists them to 2 8 integrate locally. longer in a given asylum . Based on this definition, host to almost . million refugees, or 23 This figure includes 282,300 Colombians in Ecuador, the it is estimated that some 6.4 million refugees were in a one quarter of the total, primarily from 799 300 527 800 Bolivarian Republic of , and Panama considered to be protracted situation by the end of 2012. These refugees Somalia ( , ), Sudan ( , ), and in refugee-like situations. were living in 25 host countries, accounting for an overall total of 30 protracted situations. • UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 23 1 Total population of concern to UNHCR by country of asylum and category | end-2012

COLOMBIA

DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO

4,000,000

2,000,000

400,000

Refugees(a) Asylum-seekers (pending cases) IDPs protected/assisted by UNHCR (b)

Returned refugees, returned IDPs Total population below 10,000 Stateless persons a Including people in refugee-like situation Others of concern b Including people in IDP-like situation

24 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 25 Population Levels and Trends

TABLE 2.1 Refugee populations by UNHCR regions | 2012

Start-2012 End-2012 Change (total) People in People in refugee-like refugee-like UNHCR regions Refugees situations Total refugees Refugees situations Total refugees Absolute % - Central Africa and Great Lakes 635,100 - 635,100 479,300 - 479,300 -155,800 -24.5% - East and 1,606,900 26,000 1,632,900 1,866,700 26,000 1,892,700 259,800 15.9% - Southern Africa 144,600 - 144,600 134,700 - 134,700 -9,900 -6.8% - West Africa 280,600 - 280,600 267,800 - 267,800 -12,800 -4.6% Total Africa* 2,667,200 26,000 2,693,200 2,748,500 26,000 2,774,500 81,300 3.0%

Americas 516,800 290,800 807,600 515,300 291,200 806,500 -1,100 -0.1% Asia and Pacific 3,391,000 216,300 3,607,300 3,299,300 226,200 3,525,500 -81,800 -2.3% Europe 1,553,300 900 1,554,200 1,797,100 500 1,797,600 243,400 15.7% Middle East and North Africa 1,669,300 70,900 1,740,200 1,519,000 74,800 1,593,800 -146,400 -8.4% Total 9,797,600 604,900 10,402,500 9,879,200 618,700 10,497,900 95,400 0.9%

Note * Excluding North Africa.

to Iraq or moved onward to other coun- thousands of Congolese into UNHCR estimates (262,000). 26 Some tries since their arrival. In addition, (40,200), (17,000), and 1,500 Colombians were granted refugee some 54,000 Malian refugees fled to (8,200). 24 As observed in earlier years, status in Ecuador, bringing the total Mauritania in early 2012, while more ongoing violence and drought in south- number of Colombian refugees (54,600) than 22,000 Somali refugees arrived ern and central Somalia continued to and persons in a refugee-like situation in . force large numbers to flee; in 2012, (68,300) to almost 123,000 at the end In sub-Saharan Africa, the number 75,000 sought refuge abroad, of 2012. In the Bolivarian Republic of of refugees increased for the third con- mainly in (35,800), Yemen Venezuela, the estimated number of secutive year. By the end of 2012, there (22,300), and (13,800). Overall, Colombian refugees and persons in a were close to 2.8 million refugees in some 763,000 Somalis, or an estimated refugee-like situation remained un- sub-Saharan Africa, 81,000 more than 8 per cent of the population, have left changed, at 203,600. at the beginning of the year and more the country during the past six years. In the Asia and Pacific region, the than half a million more than two years The outbreak of war in Mali result- total number of refugees, including earlier. Nevertheless, the numbers ed in a large-scale refugee movement individuals in a refugee-like situation, remained below those in 2000, when in 2012, when an estimated 143,000 was estimated at 3.5 million at the end more than 3.4 million people were refu- people fled to Mauritania (54,000), Ni- of 2012, a decrease of 2 per cent during gees in sub-Saharan Africa. ger (50,200), and (38,400). the year. This was largely due to the vol- Major refugee outflows in sub-Sa- Conflict in Sudan led to an outflow untary repatriation of almost 100,000 haran Africa were reported from the of 112,500 refugees to Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Democratic , (100,000) and Ethiopia (12,500), while the Islamic Republic of , as well as Mali, Somalia, and Sudan. The out- more than 35,000 refugees from South UNHCR-facilitated departures for re- break of violence in the Democratic Re- Sudan arrived in Ethiopia. Elsewhere settlement of more than 34,000 refugees public of the Congo led to new internal in the region, a total of 272,800 refu- out of , Nepal, and . displacement of more than one million gees across sub-Saharan Africa were In Europe, the refugee population people, as well as to outflows of tens of able to return home in safety and dig- increased by 243,400 people to 1.8 mil- nity, including to Côte d’Ivoire (72,800), lion at the end of 2012 (+16%), largely as the Democratic Republic of the Congo a result of the arrival of 308,000 Syr- (71,900), Burundi (35,700), 25 ian refugees in Turkey. Some 68,600 of (29,400), and (19,700). these individuals returned spontane- In the Americas, the refugee popu- ously to their country over the course Resettled refugees lation remained virtually unchanged, of the year. An additional 18,400 Syrian in UNHCR’s at roughly 806,500. The asylum-seekers were granted interna- of America accounted for one third of tional protection on an individual basis refugee statistics refugees in this region, according to across Europe. The increase in Syrian Over the past 10 years, more than 836,000 refugees have arrived in industrialized countries 24 Congolese arriving in Uganda were granted refugee status on a prima facie basis, whereas those arriving in Burundi and Rwanda through resettlement programmes. They are not went through individual refugee status determination. included in UNHCR’s refugee statistics because they 25 Some 33,800 returnees included former refugees living in Mtabila camp, United Republic of . The cessation of refugee have found a durable solution. However, they do status of this group took place on 1 August 2012, and the orderly return operation to Burundi took place on 31 October 2012. remain of concern to UNHCR. • 26 In the absence of official refugee statistics, UNHCR is required to estimate refugee populations in 25 industrialized countries.

26 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 2 Refugee-hosting countries | end-2012

Number of refugees* > 500,000 250,000 to < 500,000 100,000 to < 250,000 10,000 to < 100,000 < 10,000

* Including people in refugee-like situation.

refugees across Europe was partly off- cent (+18,000 people), making it the qis had left the country. UNHCR con- set by a revision of UNHCR’s refugee third largest refugee-hosting country in tinued to provide assistance to 62,700 estimate for the , from the world. 28 Kenya ranked fourth with registered Iraqi refugees in the Syrian 193,600 to 149,800. 27 564,900 refugees, virtually unchanged Arab Republic by end-2012. Including from the start of the year (566,500). In other groups, the total number of refu- COUNTRIES OF ASYLUM light of the deteriorating humanitar- gees in the Syrian Arab Republic was With two exceptions, the 10 major refu- ian situation and escalating violence in 476,500 at year-end, making it the fifth gee-hosting countries in 2012 were the the Syrian Arab Republic, the govern- largest refugee-hosting country. same as in 2011. The United States of ment estimate for Iraqi refugees in the Ethiopia continued to receive new America dropped out of the list of the country was revised from 750,000 to arrivals in 2012, with 94,000 people top 10, and Turkey moved in into 10th 471,400, assuming that a number of Ira- seeking refuge, mostly from Somalia place [see Figure 2.1]. Together, these 10 5 8 countries hosted . million refugees, Fig. 2.1 Major refugee-hosting countries | end-2012 or 55 per cent of the total worldwide. Pakistan continued to host the larg- est number of refugees in the world Pakistan 1,638,500 1 64 ( . million), nearly all from Afghani- Islamic Rep. of Iran 868,200 stan. This country’s overall figure de- creased by 64,000 people compared to Germany 589,700 the start of the year, mainly due to the Kenya 564,900 voluntary repatriation of Afghan refu- * Syrian Arab Rep. 476,500 gees. The Islamic Republic of Iran host- ed 868,200 refugees by year-end, almost Ethiopia 376,400

all of which were Afghans. An overall 373,700 drop of 18,200 refugees was observed, mainly due to repatriating Afghans. * Jordan 302,700 589 700 Germany reported , refugees ** China 301,00 at the end of 2012, an increase of 3 per Turkey 276,100

27 Idem. * Government estimate. 28 The refugee estimate for Germany is currently under ** The 300,000 Vietnamese refugees are well integrated and in practice receive protection from the review, which may lead to an adjustment in future reports. Government of China.

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 27 Population Levels and Trends

(35,800) and South Sudan (35,200) but from 450,000 to 63,000. This reduction 307,700 Syrian refugees arrived over also Sudan (12,500) and (10,700). was partly offset by the arrival of more the course of the year and were granted Since 2008, when Ethiopia was host to than 131,000 Syrian refugees. The to- temporary protection by the Govern- 83,600 refugees, figures in that coun- tal number of refugees in Jordan stood ment of Turkey. With the return of try have more than quadrupled. By at 302,700 by year-end, making it the 68,600 people to the Syrian Arab Re- the end of 2012, the refugee popula- eighth largest refugee-hosting coun- public, the number was 248,500 at tion had grown to 376,400 and Ethiopia try in the world. In China, meanwhile, the end of 2012. Combined with other was hosting the sixth largest refugee reported numbers of refugees have re- refugee populations, the total num- population in the world. The refugee mained largely unchanged since the ber of refugees in Turkey was 267,100, population in Chad remained relatively early 1980s, and the country featured as moving it from the 59th to the 10th most stable at 373,700, compared to 366,500 the ninth largest refugee-hosting coun- important refugee-hosting country at the end of 2011. try in 2012. in the space of just a single year. In no In Jordan, the government estimate In Turkey, however, there were sig- other country has the change been of Iraqi refugees was revised down, nificant new arrivals in 2012. More than so dramatic.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF HOST COUNTRIES Countries’ contributions to interna- to be high. This indicator shows that world’s refugees, resided in countries tional refugee protection can take in 2012, the 25 countries with the larg- whose GDP (PPP) per capita was below many forms. These include providing est number of refugees per 1 USD GDP USD 5,000. asylum, offering refugees a durable (PPP) per capita were all developing In 2012, Pakistan had the high- solution, and providing funds for pro- countries, and included 17 Least Devel- est number of refugees in relation to tection and assistance activities – inclu- oped Countries. More than 5.1 million its national economy [see Figure 2.2], ding in other, usually less prosperous, refugees, representing about half of the hosting 550 refugees per 1 USD GDP

countries. Developing countries can UNHCR / J. J. KOHLER often host large groups of refugees, placing an extra burden on their com- Fig. 2.2 Number of refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) munities. To assist these countries, the per capita | 2012 international community provides re- sources through UNHCR, other inter- Pakistan national agencies, non-governmental 550

organizations, or bilaterally. Ethiopia 317 The ratio of the size of a country’s hosted refugee population to its aver- Kenya 305 age income level – according to Gross Chad 212 Domestic Product (GDP) (, or PPP) 29 per capita 30 – South Sudan 192 provides a proxy measure of the burden Dem. Rep. of Congo of hosting refugees that also permits a 147 better comparison between countries. Uganda 133 When the number of refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita is high, the 114

relative contribution and effort made Liberia 97 by countries, in relation to their na- tional economy, can also be considered Syrian Arab Rep. 95

29 Source for (Purchasing Power Parity): International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2013 (accessed 6 October 2013). 30 Source for national populations: , Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision, New York, 2013.

28 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 Population Levels and Trends

UNHCR staff answer questions for refugees at a help desk in the city of Zarqa, Jordan. With the majority of the refugee population in Jordan living in urban areas, help desks like this one provide critical advice to refugees on issues such as protection, health and registration.

(PPP) per capita. Ethiopia was second, Fig. 2.3 Number of refugees per 1,000 inhabitants | 2012 with 317 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita, followed by Kenya (305), Chad (212), South Sudan (192), and the Jordan 47

Democratic Republic of the Congo Chad 32 (147). The first developed country in this regard was Germany, in 30th place, Lebanon 31 with 15 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) Rep. of Congo 24 per capita. These rankings change when the 23 number of refugees is compared to the national population of the host country. Mauritania 22 47 Here, Jordan tops the list with refu- Syrian Arab Rep. 22 gees per 1,000 inhabitants, followed by Chad (32), Lebanon (31), Congo (24), South Sudan 20 and Djibouti (23) [see Figure 2.3]. Chad, Malta 19 South Sudan, and the Syrian Arab Re- public are the only countries among the 18 top 10 for both indicators.

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 29 Population Levels and Trends

ORIGINS At the end of 2012, Afghanistan, So- Somalis were the second largest ref- Germany (49,800) and the Islamic Re- malia, Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic, ugee group under UNHCR’s responsi- public of Iran (44,100). and Sudan were the top five source bility, with more than 1.1 million people Conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic countries of refugees. With the excep- at the end of 2012, some 60,000 more forced 647,000 people to flee, mainly tion of the Syrian Arab Republic, this than at the start of the year. Between to neighbouring countries. This was was comparable to the end of 2011, when 2007 and 2011, more than half a mil- the largest annual exodus by a single Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and lion Somalis arrived in Ethiopia and refugee group since 1999, when more the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kenya as a result of conflict and vio- than 867,000 people fled (S/ were the top-ranking source countries. lence combined with drought and fam- RES/1244 [1999]), primarily to , For 2012, the top five source countries ine. One positive sign during 2012 was , and the for- accounted for more than half (55%) of all that the refugee outflow slowed down, mer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. refugees under UNHCR’s responsibi- with 35,800 arriving in Ethiopia and The total number of Syrian refugees lity worldwide [see Figure 2.4]. 13,800 in Kenya. In addition, 3,200 So- at end-2012 was 729,000, making this With close to 2.6 million refugees fled to Djibouti while some the fourth largest refugee group in the in 82 countries, Afghanistan remained 22,300 embarked on a perilous journey world – a large jump from 36th place a the leading country of origin of refu- across the Gulf of or the year earlier. gees in 2012. Indeed, the country has to Yemen. Sudan was the fifth largest country remained at the top of this list for 32 Despite significant revisions of fig- of origin, with 569,000 refugees under consecutive years, with numbers vary- ures, Iraqis were the third largest refu- UNHCR’s mandate at the end of 2012, ing from 500,000 refugees at the onset gee group in 2012, with an estimated up from 387,100 31 two years earlier. of the crisis in 1979 to more than 6.3 746,200 persons, mainly in the Syr- Fighting in the southern areas of Sudan million at its peak in 1990. On average, ian Arab Republic (471,400) and Jor- drove 100,000 persons to seek refuge one out of every four refugees in the dan (63,000). This is almost half of the in South Sudan and another 12,500 in world is from Afghanistan, with 95 per figure reported in 2011 (1.4 million), as Ethiopia during the year. Since the out- cent of these located in Pakistan and governments reduced their estimates break of conflict in 2011, an estimated the Islamic Republic of Iran. Outside in both countries on the assumption 218,000 Sudanese have fled the country. the immediate region, Germany hosted that many people had returned to Iraq 31 This figure includes citizens of South Sudan, in the the largest number of Afghans, an esti- or moved elsewhere. Other important absence of separate statistics available for both countries mated 31,700 people. host countries of Iraqi refugees were until 2011.

Fig. 2.4 Top 10 source countries of refugees | 2008 - 2012 (ranking based on 2012 data)

3 million

1 million 2012 100,000

2011

2010

2009

2008 * May include citizens of South Sudan (in the absence of separate statistics for both countries). * ** Iraq ** ** Includes people in refugee- Other Somalia Sudan Eritrea like situations. Viet Nam Afghanistan Colombia DR of the Congo Syrian Arab Republic

30 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 Population Levels and Trends

Fig. 2.5 Major source countries of refugees | end-2012 Other main source countries of ref- ugees were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Colombia. Afghanistan 2,586,200 The number of Congolese refugees in-

Somalia 1,136,700 creased for the fifth consecutive year, reaching an all-time high by year-end Iraq 746,200 (509,300). Some 40,000 Congolese were granted prima facie refugee status Syrian Arab Rep. 729,000 in Uganda, while an additional 25,300 * Sudan 568,900 Congolese were recognized on an indi- vidual basis, mainly in Rwanda (15,100) Dem. Rep. of Congo 509,300 and Burundi (6,400). The numbers of 415 400 ** Myanmar 415,400 refugees from Myanmar ( , ) and Colombia (394,100) remained relatively ** Colombia 394,100 stable compared to 2011. The figure for Myanmar included an estimated *** Viet Nam 336,900 200,000 unregistered people in Bang- Eritrea 285,400 ladesh, while the figure for Colombians included refugees as well as individuals * May include citizens of South Sudan (in absence of separate statistics for both countries). ** Includes people in a refugee-like situation. in refugee-like situations in Ecuador, *** The 300,000 Vietnamese refugees are well integrated and in practice receive protection the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, from the Government of China. and Panama.

º Proportion of nationals as refugee of selected countries This section briefly examines the pro- from 6.14 per cent in 2008 to 11.79 per include Sudan, Eritrea, Mali, and the portion of nationals who are refugees, cent in 2012, largely because of major . In contrast, in order to determine their magnitude Somali refugee arrivals in Kenya and the proportion of refugees from Bhu- relative to their country of origin. This Ethiopia in recent years. Other coun- tan compared to its national popula- indicator implies that the higher this tries that continued to witness either tion showed a dramatic decline over the proportion, the greater the number steady or sudden increases in the pro- years, mostly due to large-scale resettle- of citizens who have fled their native portion of their nationals being refugees ment out of refugee camps in Nepal. country. Refugee movements in the last five years have had a significant impact TABLE 2.2 Proportion of refugees to nationals on increases and declines in this indica- of selected countries | 2008 - 2012 (in %) tor. One of the most striking outcomes of such a comparison is the dramatic List of origins based on country exceeding 1% at least once during the period. jump in the percentage of Syrians who became refugees compared to the size of the resident population in the Syrian Origin 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Afghanistan Arab Republic. The figure increased 10.48% 10.42% 10.76% 9.38% 9.10% 0 07 2008 3 38 Somalia 6.14% 7.23% 7.99% 11.18% 11.79% from . per cent in to . per Iraq 6.47% 5.92% 5.44% 4.61% 2.41% cent in 2012. This was to be expected, Syrian Arab Rep. 0.07% 0.09% 0.09% 0.09% 3.38% Sudan* 1.23% 1.06% 1.09% 1.40% 1.60% however, in view of the deteriorating Eritrea 3.46% 3.76% 3.88% 4.39% 4.97% situation in that country over the past Serbia (and Kosovo: S/RES/1244 [1999]) 1.90% 2.02% 1.90% 1.68% 1.64% two years. 2008 Bhutan 15.16% 12.64% 10.47% 8.09% 5.80% In , Afghan refugees consti- Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.93% 1.82% 1.64% 1.52% 1.35% tuted 10.48 per cent when compared to Central African Rep. 2.99% 3.74% 3.79% 3.74% 3.78% 2.22% 1.76% 1.52% 1.44% 1.44% Afghanistan’s resident population. This Mali 0.01% 0.02% 0.03% 0.03% 1.07% 9 10 Saint Vincent proportion has since declined to . per 0.69% 0.78% 0.87% 1.03% 1.20% cent in 2012, partly as a result of Afghan and the Grenadines Burundi 3.27% 1.06% 0.91% 1.10% 0.80% refugees returning to their country of origin. In the case of Somalia, on the Note Source for national population: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). other hand, the proportion of nationals World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. who are refugees has almost doubled, * Includes South Sudan before declaration of of the Republic of South Sudan.

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 31 3 IDPs protected/assisted by UNHCR | end-2012

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SERBIA* ** SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC IRAQ AFGHANISTAN

LIBYA PAKISTAN MYANMAR SUDAN** MALI CHAD YEMEN

CÔTE D’IVOIRE **SOUTH SUDAN CENTRAL AFRICAN REP. SOMALIA COLOMBIA

KENYA

BURUNDI DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO

IDP population

4,000,000

2,000,000

* Serbia (and Kosovo: S/RES/1244 (1999)) 400,000 ** Includes people in an IDP-like situation.

ASYLUM-SEEKERS INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS Those asylum-seekers that are in- The Internal Displacement Monitoring five million newly displaced people in cluded in the total population of Centre estimated the global number of 2012, particularly in the Democratic concern to UNHCR are individuals persons displaced by armed conflict, Republic of the Congo and the Syrian who are awaiting a final decision on generalized violence, and rights Arab Republic. Among those countries their applications for asylum or refugee violations at the end of 2012 at some 28.8 where UNHCR was operational, close status. The figures in this section refer million, the highest figure in more than to 1.6 million IDPs returned home to claimants whose applications were two decades. 33 The number of IDPs, during the reporting period, many pending as of the end of 2012, irrespec- including individuals in IDP-like situa- with UNHCR’s assistance. 35 UNHCR tive of when they were lodged, and may tions, 34 who benefited from UNHCR’s figures for end-2012 included IDP pop- include undecided or pending cases protection and assistance activities ulations in a total of 26 countries. from previous years. 32 stood at almost 17.7 million at the end of With some four million internally Worldwide, at least 928,200 indi- 2012. This was also the highest figure displaced people registered by the gov- viduals were still awaiting a decision on on record, and 2.2 million more than at ernment since 1997, Colombia contin- their asylum claims at the end of 2012, the start of the year (15.5 million). ued to face a large displacement situa- the highest number since 2009. This Where UNHCR was engaged with tion. Likewise, escalating conflict and figure included those at all stages of the IDP populations, offices reported at least violence in the Syrian Arab Republic asylum process. Despite improved re- porting in recent years, the global num- ber of undecided cases presented here 32 For details on the number of new asylum claims submitted, as well as on decisions taken, see Chapter IV. is incomplete, as some countries, par- 33 For detailed statistics on global internal displacement, see the IDMC website at www.internal-displacement.org. 34 As in Kyrgyzstan (168,600), South Sudan (155,200), and Sudan (77,300). ticularly in the industrialized world, do 35 According to the IDMC, 2.1 million IDPs were reported to have returned to their place of residence in 2012 globally, the lowest not report these figures. figure since 2003.

32 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 Most refugees Population Levels and Trends live in developing making their ways back home. This countries was the first significant number of returns since May 2011, when fight- The percentage of refugees residing in ing between government troops and developing countries has increased over the past militants erupted in southern Yemen. decade. Ten years ago, developing countries hosted 107 000 on average 70 per cent of the world’s refugees, while Overall, although some , IDPs this figure now stands at 81 per cent. in Yemen returned over the course of the year, the number of IDPs protected By the end of 2012, developing countries or assisted by UNHCR in Yemen re- 385 300 hosted 8.5 million refugees. The 49 Least Developed mained high, at around , . 219 000 Countries provided asylum to 2.5 million refugees, Some , Iraqis returned to their 2012 24 per cent of the global total. homes in , reducing the number of IDPs protected or assisted by UNHCR in the country to 1.1 million. Similarly, the number of people still displaced displaced an estimated two million in Côte d’Ivoire dropped to 45,000 by within that country, and affected an year-end, as 96,000 people returned estimated four million more by the end to their places of habitual residence. of the year. Despite experiencing access Although more than 100,000 people and security constraints, UNHCR was in Sudan headed home, the number of able to assist an estimated 700,000 in- IDPs protected or assisted by UNHCR dividuals in 2012. in that country remained high, at ap- Elsewhere, renewed fighting in the proximately 1.8 million 36 by the end Democratic Republic of the Congo dis- of the year. In Somalia, the IDP figure placed more than a million people dur- was an estimated 1.1 million, including ing the year, bringing the total number large numbers in and the of IDPs in the country to almost 2.7 mil- Afgooye Corridor. Overall, the highest lion by the end of 2012. At the same numbers of IDP returns were reported time, 305,000 IDPs were able to return in the Philippines (336,000), the Demo- home, some soon after their displace- cratic Republic of the Congo (305,000), ment. War in Mali in 2012 displaced Iraq (219,000), and (177,500). more than 227,000 people within the country. Inter-communal tensions in Rakhine state of Myanmar resulted in 115 000 , people fleeing their homes, and Fig. 2.6 Conflict-induced internal displacement the total number of IDPs in Myanmar | 2001 - 2012 (end-year) was estimated at 430,000 by year-end. Renewed conflict and security concerns displaced 203,000 people in Afghani- (Mill.) stan in 2012, and by the end of the year 25 the number of IDPs in that country was estimated at almost half a million. Fi- nally, significant numbers of new inter- 20 nal displacement caused by conflict or violence were also reported by Pakistan 15 (362,000), South Sudan (190,500), the Philippines (178,000), Libya (143,000), 104 000 and Sudan ( , ). 10 Although millions of people were newly displaced during the year, oth- ers were able to return to their places 5 of habitual residence. In collaboration with the Yemeni authorities, UNHCR assisted tens of thousands of people in 0 ‘01‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12

36 According to IDMC estimates, the number of IDPs in Sudan is estimated to be at least 2.2 million. Portion of IDPs protected / assisted by UNHCR

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 33 Population Levels and Trends

STATELESS PERSONS Identifying stateless persons remains in place for their identification, regis- populations that fall under the agency’s key to addressing the difficulties they tration, and documentation. statelessness mandate. This guidance face, and to enabling UNHCR to ful- UNHCR’s Committee reflects efforts undertaken to clarify the fil its mandate to prevent and reduce has called on the agency to undertake definition of a stateless person under statelessness and protect stateless in- research “to promote an increased un- Article 1 of the 1954 Convention relating dividuals. Measuring statelessness is derstanding of the nature and scope of to the Status of Stateless Persons. 38 For complicated by the nature of the phe- the problem of statelessness”. It has also 2012, UNHCR’s statistics on persons nomenon, given that stateless people encouraged States in possession of statis- under its statelessness mandate mainly often live in precarious situations on tics on stateless persons or individuals comprise stateless persons – those who the margins of society. They frequently with undetermined nationality to share are not considered as nationals by any lack identity documentation and are them with UNHCR. 37 In 2012, UNHCR State under the operation of its law. Data subject to discrimination, and only a issued updated guidance to its field of- from some countries also include per- minority of countries have procedures fices on the reporting of statistics for sons of undetermined nationality.

37 UNHCR, Conclusion on Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness and Protection of Stateless Persons, 6 October 2006, No. 106 (LVII) – 2006; available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/453497302.html. 38 UNHCR, Guidelines on Statelessness No. 1: The definition of “Stateless Person” in Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 20 February 2012, HCR/GS/12/01 available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f4371b82.html.

Improving statistics on stateless populations: Libya as a case study

In 2012, UNHCR engaged secondary research studies. the populations under study the importance, therefore, of tribal groups, the Mahamid and a research firm to assess Secondary research consisted was prepared. The project further inquiry into the laws Hassawna, finding it impossible the prevalence of statelessness of a desk study of the relevant report noted that 77 per and practices of neighbouring to vote in the 2012 elections among specific ethnic groups historical episodes, decrees, cent of survey respondents States to clarify whether these due to their lack of nationality in southern Libya, identify legislative amendments, and are Libyan nationals, but survey respondents and others documents). causal factors, and formulate policy changes that have revealed that certain ethnic in a similar category possess recommendations to enhance affected the nationality status and regional populations other nationalities – absent The project report also protection and access to of the groups concerned. This within this subgroup face which, they would be stateless. offered short- and long-term identity documents. The research also examined the difficulties in securing a range recommendations. Short-term research focused on four purpose and legal significance of identity documents that The household survey also interventions could include specific tribal populations of specific forms of official confirm nationality status and confirmed that populations capacity-building for local (the Tebu, Tuareg, Mahamid, identity documents issued are required to access various lacking nationality administrative authorities, and Hassawna), identified in Libya, which provide public services. The remaining documentation face a wide public awareness campaigns through a literature review evidence of nationality status. 23 per cent were found to be of range of protection issues. for undocumented and isolated and field visits as having Primary research involved the undetermined nationality. These include limited access tribal populations, and the particular difficulty in obtaining administration of a randomized While there was conclusive to primary education (with 70 provision of assistance to nationality documentation and household survey over a period evidence that individuals in per cent of undocumented groups with limited access accessing public services. The of three months covering 700 this sub-group are not Libyan Tebu children in one district to public services. Long-term legal and protection situation individuals in seven selected nationals (including having unable to attend public school), recommendations include of these target groups were districts (Sabha, Ash Shati, Ghat, been formally rejected by informal and precarious advocating for law reforms compared to a control group Murzuq, Al Hayat, Nalut, the competent authorities arrangements concerning land to ensure greater harmony of Libyan nationals who report and Al Kufrah). for confirmation of Libyan tenure and tenancy (with with international standards, no difficulties in obtaining citizenship), respondents within only half of the total survey improving the efficiency confirmation of nationality or On the basis of the household the group reported having population possessing deeds and comprehensiveness enjoying associated rights. survey, along with an analysis significant links to other States, or leases to enforce their of nationality courts, and of Libyan nationality law, a connections that could form property rights), and limited strengthening the civil registry The research methodology detailed report on the legal the basis of possessing other access to political rights (with to include all residents of included both primary and and protection situation of nationalities. The report noted more than 80 per cent of two the country. •

34 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 Population Levels and Trends

Statistics on stateless persons can Fig. 2.7 Numbers of countries reporting statistics be gathered using several methods, on stateless persons | 2004 - 2012 through analyses of civil registration data, population censuses, or targeted surveys. 39 The United Nations recom- 2004 30 11 mendations on population censuses un- derscore the importance of including 2005 48 14 questions related to citizenship, includ- 2006 49 19 ing statelessness. 40 Census data for 10 countries are included in this year’s sta- 2007 54 17 tistics, compared to two just three years ago. With the 2010 World Population and 2008 58 22 Housing Census Programme 41 drawing to a close and as census results are grad- 2009 60 21 ually being released by national statis- 2010 65 20 tical offices, UNHCR expects further improvements in this data. 2011 64 21 This report only includes data on countries for which reliable official 2012 72 17 statistics or estimates of stateless popu- Countries with reliable data lations were available. Despite the in- Countries with known populations without reliable data creased number of countries reporting and the enhanced reliability of their figures, UNHCR was unable to provide less persons. By the end of 2012, statis- offices reported a figure of 3.34 million comprehensive statistics on the num- tics on persons falling under UNHCR’s stateless persons, roughly comparable ber of stateless persons in all countries statelessness mandate were available to that reported in 2011 (3.47 million). around the world. Annex Table 7 in- for 72 countries, eight more than in 2011 Significant progress has continued cludes some countries (marked with an [see Figure 2.7]. This compares to just to be made in obtaining statistics on the asterisk) for which UNHCR has infor- 30 countries in 2004, when UNHCR reduction of the number of stateless mation about the existence of signifi- started collecting statistics on stateless persons through acquisition or confir- cant stateless populations but for which populations in a more systematic way. mation of nationality. Approximately no reliable figures were available. These efforts were not only bolstered 94,600 stateless persons in 24 countries The data on statelessness in 2012 by the release of national census data, acquired nationality during 2012, more have shown a continuation of the trend but also by an increasing awareness of than half of which resulted from steps observed in previous years of expand- statelessness in a number of countries taken to resolve the statelessness situa- ing coverage and knowledge of state- around the world. For 2012, UNHCR’s tion in Côte d’Ivoire.

OTHER GROUPS OR OTHERS OF CONCERN UNHCR has also continued to extend need of humanitarian assistance. There its protection and assistance activities were 1.3 million people in this category to those individuals it considers to be ‘of by year-end. Two-thirds of those were concern’ but who do not fall into any of Afghans, former refugees who had retur- the previously discussed population ca- ned to Afghanistan prior to 2012 but who tegories. These activities were based on had been unable to reintegrate due to the humanitarian or other special grounds difficult economic situation, the lack of and included, among other, two groups: comprehensive reintegration measures, one, former refugees assisted to integrate and poor security. Many of these indi- locally, and two, asylum-seekers rejected viduals thus continued to benefit from by States but whom UNHCR deemed in UNHCR’s assistance. n

39 UNHCR (2012), The State of the World’s Refugees: In Search of Solidarity, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 108-09. 40 United Nations (2008), Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2, New York, accessible at http://unstats.un.org/unsd/publication/seriesM/seriesm_67Rev2e.pdf. 41 See: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/2010_PHC/default.htm.

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2012 35