In a powerful address on Monday, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called on countries to remove restrictions at their borders that hinder the entry of refugees and migrants, emphasizing that such measures are often ineffective and, in some cases, unlawful.
His comments came during the annual meeting of the UN Refugee Agency in Geneva, attended by over 100 diplomats and ministers.
Grandi highlighted that the number of displaced people worldwide has reached an unprecedented level, with 123 million individuals forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, and environmental disasters.
The High Commissioner stressed that focusing solely on border controls is not the solution to the global displacement crisis.
"Instead of just focusing on borders, we need to address the root causes of displacement," Grandi urged, calling for a collective, humble approach to finding solutions.
He emphasized the importance of working together to alleviate the suffering of refugees and to find lasting, humane solutions.
Grandi also criticized the practice of outsourcing asylum plans or suspending them altogether, without naming specific countries. He argued that these approaches violate international law and called on nations to develop fair, legal, and rapid asylum procedures.
The High Commissioner expressed his belief that only by addressing the core drivers of migration—such as conflict, poverty, and human rights abuses—can meaningful progress be made.
In his speech, Grandi particularly highlighted the urgent need for increased support for refugees fleeing the civil war in Sudan.
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