Who are refugees?

Traditionally, refugees were people who fled their home country because of persecution (or fear of persecution) due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinions, or social category. Today, the term is also used to describe those fleeing war. 

1. 

   Refugees from the Bosnian war sleeping outside Tuzla airport July 14th, 1995 

                                                                                    (AP photo/Darko Bandic)
   

   
   

   
   

   

   South Vietnamese refugees arrive on a U.S. Navy ship during Operation Frequent Wind

   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Saigon)

   
   

   
   

   

   Syrian refugees in Irbil, Northern Iraq 8/23/2014 

                                    (IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation https://www.flickr.com/photos/ihhinsaniyardimvakfi/)
   
   

   Today, there are 51.2 million people who have been displaced and are living away from their homes. Of these, half are children. From the over 50 million displaced persons, 10.7 are categorized as 'newly displaced', including 2.5 million new refugees. Afghanistan is currently the biggest source of refugees (a position it has held since 1981) followed by Syria with 6.5 million displaced within its boarders. Syrian's position as the world's second largest producer of refugees is a stark contrast to its position in 2008 as the world's second largest refugee-hosting country.

   
   

   
   

   Sadly, the actual numbers are probably even higher, as these calculations do not take into account those who may have left their homes from the many violent conflicts that have erupted so far in 2014.