East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes

23.6 million forcibly displaced and stateless people¹ | 18% of global total 

¹ Please see definitions of population types on UNHCR's Refugee Data Finder website.

The East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region is expected to host 23.6 million forcibly displaced and stateless people by the end of 2024.  

Millions have fled conflicts in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and floods and droughts stoked by climate change. Their difficulties have been exacerbated by the global economic downturn and repercussions from the war in Ukraine.  

In 2024, UNHCR will prioritize emergency response, protection and basic services to stabilize populations and ensure their dignity, while pursuing opportunities for inclusion and solutions. It will support returnees in Burundi, Somalia and South Sudan, and support governments of the region to bring their Global Refugee Forum pledges to fruition. 

In Sudan, the conflict following the collapse of the fragile peace process in 2023 forced many thousands to flee and drove more than 1 million into neighbouring countries. Many fled to South Sudan, which also saw flare-ups of violence that caused internal and external displacement. Both countries are expected to remain fragile throughout 2024.  

In northern Ethiopia, the security and operating environment has gradually stabilized since a peace agreement for the Tigray region, but the Amhara, Benishangul, Gambella regions and Western Tigray remain of concern. In Somalia, the political and security environment and the ongoing impacts of a historic drought are expected to cause further displacement.  

Elections scheduled between 2023 and 2025 in the DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan and the United Republic of Tanzania may affect access to territory and asylum and opportunities for solutions, particularly where State actors instrumentalize displaced populations to achieve political ends. Election-related violence and instability may also cause new or secondary displacement, and onward movements within the region. 

UNHCR will support efforts to keep asylum access open and will press the international community to take a greater share of responsibility for protecting and assisting displaced people, as well as helping them to return safely, resettle elsewhere or integrate locally. While some countries exhibit great generosity, the region may witness a progressive tightening of asylum regimes in the face of protracted situations. UNHCR will support interventions that safeguard access to asylum procedures and protection, contribute to the reform of legal and policy frameworks that address statelessness and the risk of statelessness, and expand refugee inclusion in national systems.