• Record 123.2 million people forcibly displaced globally due to conflict and violence.
• Sudan surpasses Syria as the country with the highest number of displaced individuals.
• Humanitarian aid funding falls to 2015 levels, impacting support for refugees.
• Urgent calls for diplomatic efforts and increased funding from the international community.
• Voluntary returns of displaced individuals up, but conditions remain fragile.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 123 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced due to conflicts and violence, representing a significant increase of about 2 million from the previous year. This escalating trend continues as humanitarian aid funding falls to levels seen in 2015, exacerbating the crisis, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

As of now, Sudan has overtaken Syria, with 14.3 million displaced, due to ongoing civil conflict, while Syria accounts for 13.5 million. The conflict in Ukraine continues to fuel displacement, with 8.8 million individuals affected there. Filippo Grandi, the UNHCR High Commissioner, emphasized the urgency of addressing these crises during a time marked by "acute human suffering," according to TRT Global and Africanews.

Despite the alarming rise in displacement numbers, many countries hosting refugees are experiencing severe funding shortages, leading to critically under-resourced aid operations. The UN Refugee Agency warns that failure to resolve ongoing conflicts and stretched resources create untenable conditions for millions of displaced individuals. Funding cuts have left many vulnerable and lacking essential support, highlighting an urgent need for increased international solidarity, as detailed by AllAfrica and Reuters.

On a positive note, some displaced individuals are beginning to return home, notably in Syria, where nearly two million Syrians have returned since the regime changes, though the conditions for safe returns remain fragile. The UNHCR has reported a total of 9.8 million people returning home in 2024, including internally displaced persons, according to Le Monde and AA.