UNHCR treats conflict in Syria as major factor of refugees' growth

In 2014, the number of refugees in the world increased by 2.8 million, and amounted to 19.5 million, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published on the eve of the World Refugee Day.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2012 rights defenders from the Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated the danger for the civilian population associated with warfare in Syria.

The new annual report of the UNHCR "Global Trends" shows a sharp increase in the number of persons forced to save by fleeing. In late 2014, 59.5 million people were forced migrants (compared with 51.2 million a year earlier, and 37.5 million 10 years ago).

A major increase of refugees was registered in early 2011, with the start of war in Syria, which is treated as the world's strongest resettlement motivator. Other major countries of refugees' origin are Afghanistan (2.59 million) and Somalia (1.1 million), says the press release of the UNHCR. At the same time, residents of Northern Caucasus go to the warfare area.

Earlier, numerous reports arrived from Dagestan, Chechnya and other republics of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) about detentions and convictions of local residents involved in the activities of Syrian militants.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.