Published on: 2026-07-14
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Daniel Johnson
July 14, 2026 Refugees and Migrants
The obligation to provide protection to refugees was established in international law more than seven decades ago, but how ready is the world in reality today to support those fleeing conflicts and persecution?
According to data presented on Tuesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), public support for asylum seekers is significantly higher than it appears when observing public discussions.
“This support has remained relatively stable over many years, despite political tension, economic pressure, and, as you well know, highly polarized public debates,” noted Dominique Hyde, Director of the External Relations Department of UNHCR.
“Double Vision”
Working in partnership with the research company Ipsos, the agency found that two-thirds of the residents of 29 countries agree that people fleeing war or persecution should be able to seek asylum in another country. At the same time, approximately the same number of respondents believe that many of those seeking protection do not actually need it.
“Often, these are the same people: they simultaneously hold both points of view,” said Trin Tu, managing director of the British branch of Ipsos.
According to her, public opinion currently remains unbalanced between the desire to support those who find themselves in desperate situations and doubts about how effectively national systems of asylum provision, border management, and integration of newcomers into a new environment operate. This trend is especially noticeable in the United Kingdom.
“We are observing a low level of migration, but at the same time half of the country’s population believes that immigration has gotten out of control,” added Trin Tu.
In Germany and Sweden, where the influx of refugees remains significant, support for asylum seekers is still fairly high, whereas in Turkey and Poland it has decreased compared to previous years.
Dominique Hyde emphasized the need for further international support, reminding of the difficulties faced by countries hosting tens of thousands of people fleeing conflicts. “Hospitality alone cannot replace international responsibility,” she said.
Harsh conditions and lack of essentials
Hyde spoke about her trip to a camp in eastern Burundi, where more than 57,000 Congolese refugees live, fleeing fierce fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Only about four out of ten people there had any kind of shelter.
“I have seen mothers and fathers who barely had enough food,” Hyde said. “I have listened to families’ stories about overcrowded shelters. I have spoken with people about how unsafe they consider the local water. Moreover, there simply isn’t enough water. They spend nights in the cold, under the open sky, because the camp is located at an altitude of two thousand meters, and during the day they are exhausted by the heat.”
Intergenerational disagreements
Among more than 21,500 respondents surveyed in a sociological study, young respondents have a much more positive attitude towards refugees than the older generation. Almost half of Generation Z (1997–2012) believes that refugees successfully integrate, compared to 39 percent of the so-called baby boomers (1946–1964).
Representatives of Generation Z are less likely to support border closures or express doubts about the motives of refugees. Nevertheless, concerns about integration, border management, and the credibility of asylum claims persist to some degree across all age groups.
A UNHCR and Ipsos survey showed that the highest support for refugees is observed in Sweden and the Netherlands (78 percent), followed by Spain (76 percent). Australia, Brazil, and the USA most positively assess the benefits of refugee integration.
In some countries, noticeable changes have occurred: in Japan, support for people seeking asylum has risen to 64 percent from 23 percent in 2019; in France – from 43 to 68 percent.
When answering questions about specific situations of forced displacement and preferred response methods, people most often chose direct emergency assistance, diplomatic measures, and temporary protection.
The research results show that many believe: protection for refugees should include more options beyond direct resettlement.
“We see that many support the right to seek safety, but at the same time doubt how fair, effective, and well-managed asylum systems are,” said Hyde. “This is an important message for the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention: the task is to make its provisions work in practice.”
UN Assistance
In the past year, conflicts, violence, and persecution continued to force millions of people to leave their homes, while climate shocks, economic and political instability further increased their needs. UNHCR sought to help 129.4 million people – almost the same number as in 2024. At the same time, available resources decreased by 1.2 billion dollars.
In 2025, UNHCR helped more than 37,000 refugees resettle in other countries, mainly from Turkey, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Rwanda. The agency submitted 35,000 resettlement applications to 23 countries. Overall, the number of resettlement applications submitted to states last year sharply decreased.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.