United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih has said that peace is ultimately the most durable solution to forced displacement, as more than 117 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, violence, persecution and other threats to their safety.Addressing the UN Security Council in New York on September 25, Salih said displacement is increasing faster than long-term solutions. He called on the Council to use its political influence to help end conflicts and sustain peace processes.Key HighlightsMore than 117 million people have been forced from their homes worldwide.UN refugee chief Barham Salih addressed the Security Council on September 25.Salih said humanitarian agencies can protect displaced people but cannot create peace.He called for stronger efforts to end conflicts and sustain peace processes.He stressed that returns require safety, livelihoods and functioning services.The 1951 Refugee Convention marks its 75th anniversary in 2026.UNHCR is promoting its 50by35 initiative to reduce long-term refugee dependence on humanitarian aid.UN Refugee Chief on Forced DisplacementBarham Salih, in his first briefing to the Security Council as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said the scale of forced displacement reflects the continuing impact of conflicts around the world.According to UNHCR, more than 117 million people have been forced to leave their homes. Salih said many conflicts are becoming prolonged, leaving people displaced for years or even generations.He said humanitarian organisations have an important role in protecting people forced to flee and supporting countries and communities hosting refugees. However, humanitarian organisations cannot resolve the conflicts that cause displacement.Salih urged the Security Council to use its political influence to help bring conflicts to an end and support peace processes.'When Peace Fails, People Move'Salih highlighted the connection between conflict and displacement, saying that when peace fails, people are forced to move.He pointed to situations including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Western Sahara, where prolonged conflicts or unresolved political situations have contributed to displacement.In Sudan, he said millions of people have been displaced inside and outside the country. Salih called for civilian protection, safe humanitarian access and efforts toward a political solution.He also stressed that humanitarian assistance alone cannot provide a long-term answer to displacement caused by conflict.Return Alone Is Not EnoughThe UN refugee chief also explained that simply returning displaced people to their countries or communities does not automatically mean that displacement has been resolved.People returning home need safety, dignity, livelihoods and functioning public services to rebuild their lives.Salih described return as an event, while a lasting solution requires conditions that allow people to remain safely in their homes and rebuild their futures.He also pointed to Syria, where millions of displaced people have returned since December 2024, while stressing the importance of international engagement and investment in recovery.Refugee Convention Marks 75 YearsSalih's Security Council briefing also came as the 1951 Refugee Convention marks its 75th anniversary in 2026.He called on states to preserve asylum and uphold the principle that people should not be returned to places where they face danger.Salih said asylum remains important because it protects people when peace has failed while keeping open the possibility of safe, voluntary and dignified return when conditions improve.UNHCR's 50by35 InitiativeSalih also discussed UNHCR's 50by35 initiative, which aims to halve by 2035 the number of refugees in long-term displacement who depend on humanitarian assistance.The initiative reflects a broader shift from managing displacement indefinitely towards finding durable solutions.Salih said humanitarian agencies will continue protecting displaced people and supporting host communities, but argued that long-term success should ultimately mean creating conditions where people no longer need humanitarian assistance.He concluded his address by stressing that peace remains the most durable solution to forced displacement and urged the Security Council to use its responsibility to help make peace possible.
