Waiting
The protection that never comes
The lives of thousands of people on the move are put on hold for years due to countless obstacles, while bureaucracy decides if you can pass.
Your only option to leave your country was to embark on the journey by your own means – illegally and unsafely. There are exceptional cases – for instance, in some wars – where people can claim the right to receive international protection in a neighbouring country. In such cases, they are often required to wait in refugee camps while international organisations decide on their resettlement.
Refugee camps
There are 420 refugee camps and settlements worldwide. Some have a population of over 100,000 people.
*This map is indicative. It shows the approximate locations of camps, settlements, refugee centres and other UN-registered refugee sites.
Refugee camps
In 2023, the six largest had a combined population of almost 2 million people.