Geneva, June 11 (QNA) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has fallen for the first time in a decade, reaching 117.8 million at the end of 2025, a decline of 5.4 million compared to 2024.

It noted that 58 percent of displaced people are internally displaced, mainly in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Syria, while around 4.5 million people fled their countries last year, mostly to neighboring states.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih said many returns are taking place under pressure and not in safe or stable conditions, to countries still affected by insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to basic services and economic opportunities.

He stressed the need for fair asylum procedures and effective protection pathways for people fleeing conflict and persecution.

The agency also reported about 645,300 new asylum applications, bringing the global backlog to around 9 million cases, while statelessness is estimated at 4.5 million people worldwide. (QNA)