Geneva: The number of people forcibly displaced by war, violence, and persecution has hit a record 122.1 million, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) revealed Thursday in its annual Global Trends report. The figures mark a consecutive year of rising global displacement, underscoring a deepening humanitarian crisis, and reflect an increase of about 2 million from last year, nearly doubling over the last decade.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the surge from 120 million a year ago is driven by ongoing and intensifying conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine, along with a growing inability to resolve these conflicts and protect civilians. UNHCR stated that the international community’s failure to end these wars is exacerbating suffering on an unprecedented scale.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi highlighted some positive developments over the last six months, including the return of nearly 2 million Syrians to their country, which is attempting to recover from more than a decade of civil war. The findings are part of the refugee agency’s Global Trends Report, which noted that the number of displaced individuals, either abroad or within their home countries, rose to 122.1 million as of April, up from 120 million the previous year.

The report also indicated that the number of internally displaced people increased by more than 9% to 73.5 million at the end of last year. These numbers represent cumulative figures from years of conflict and violence, with some displaced people returning home last year even as new displacements occurred.

The release of the report coincides with a period when humanitarian groups are experiencing budget cuts from traditional Western donors, including the United States. UNHCR noted that nearly two-thirds of people who crossed national borders to flee remained in neighboring countries, challenging the perception in wealthier regions that most displaced individuals aim to reach places like Europe or the United States.

Sudan has emerged as the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 14 million people displaced by civil war, surpassing Syria, which has 13.5 million displaced individuals. Additionally, more than 10 million people in Afghanistan have been forcibly displaced, while around 8.8 million have been displaced within or from Ukraine, according to UNHCR.