The Big Answer

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"According to the UN, between 12 and 14 million people are international refugees. . . . An additional 13 to 16 million are refugees in their own countries. An estimated 2000 people a day become refugees."

“A refugee is a person who is outside their country of origin or habitual residence because they have suffered (or fear) persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they are a member of a persecuted 'social group' or because they are fleeing natural disaster. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until recognized by the state where they make a claim. As of January 31, 2005, the largest source countries of refugees are Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, South Sudan, and the Palestinian Territories. . . . In June 2011 the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated the number of refugees to 15.1 million.” In 2013, there were 92.6 million refugees that came from India, Nigeria, China, Philippines, Afghanistan (these five countries had over 30 million refugees) and 16 other countries. The U.S., France, Germany, Canada and Sweden got the most asylum seekers from 2007 to 2011. (Source: Refugee)

Refugee couple

The largest population transfer in history was the 15 million Germans shuffled around after WWII, getting moved from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria. At least a half million people died in this migration. The population transfer policy was part of the geopolitical and ethnic reconfiguration of postwar Europe; in part spoils of war, in part political changes in Europe following the war and in part recompense for atrocities and ethnic cleansings that had occurred during the war. Europeans had every right to be furious at the Germans for the horrid way they'd been treated by Hitler’s Nazis.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. All refugees in the world are under the UNHCR mandate except Palestinian Arabs (who fled what is now Israel between 1947 and 1949) and their descendants.

"The first half of 2013 has been one of the worst periods for forced displacement in decades. By the middle of the year, the size of UNHCR’s population of concern reached an all-time high. With figures continuing to rise during the second half of the year, notably in the Syrian Arab Republic, refugee and IDP [internally displaced persons] year-end numbers are likewise expected to be at record highs." (Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, mid-year trends, June, 2013)

All this begs the question: why reproduce and bring babies into the world if you live in poor areas with no political stability, no sure food or water sources, no sure safety, and no sure living space? This would seem to be the epitome of the type of situation NOT to bring babies into. It boggles the mind.

Refugees