Record refugee crisis hits all parts of globe

LONDON — The heart-wrenching plight of desperate refugees, most of them Syrians, who are fleeing to Europe by land or sea is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. Yet it is only part of a troubling trend that has reached unprecedented levels:

More people from every corner of the globe have been uprooted by war, persecution or natural disasters than ever before in history.

That amounts to 55 million people "forcibly displaced" at the end of 2014, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. That doesn't count tens of millions more in poverty who are voluntarily seeking a better life elsewhere.

Central Americans flee to USA to escape mayhem back home

Given all the conflicts and chaos raging around the world — and distressed economic conditions in so many countries — the world's migrant crisis likely will remain at record levels this year, too. And it is sure to prompt more pushback from nations worried about the costs of housing migrants and threats from terrorists sneaking across borders amid the hordes of refugees.

Andrew Geddes, co-director of the University of Sheffield’s Migration Research Group, said conflict and persecution are the key forces driving the mass migration. "Much of this displacement occurs either within countries or to neighboring countries" where conflicts are raging, he said. He said Europe's refugee crisis has been sparked by the civil war in Syria and conflicts in countries that include Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iraq.

The messaging service Whatsapp has been widely used by refugees heading to northern Europe, and many use their smartphones to access Facebook groups offering advice to aid their journeys. "People don't move directly as a result of these new technologies, but they will make a difference to the migrant journey as people are able to stay in touch with each other and get updates and news from family and friends that can influence how they travel and to where they go," Geddes said.

Syrian refugees overwhelm Lebanon to the breaking point

The war in Syria, now in its fifth year, has forced more than 4 million Syrians to flee to neighboring countries, including Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. In 2014, Syria overtook Afghanistan as the biggest source of refugees, with Somalia coming in third.

Refugees in South Africa are targets of attack

So what are governments doing to manage the growing numbers heading to their shores? Not much given the magnitude of the problem:

• European Union ministers have approved plans to relocate 120,000 migrants across the continent over the next two years but the U.N. Refugee Agency said more needs to be done. Germany expects to take in at least 800,000 migrants this year. Britain and France are among those who say the crisis must be tackled at its source in Syria, where France, Russia and a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State are conducting airstrikes.

Burma's persecuted Muslim refugees are trapped in a stateless limbo

• The United States said it will accept 85,000 refugees in 2016 — many from Syria and Africa — up from a current 70,000, The number will rise to 100,000 in 2017.

• Chile and Venezuela have offered to take in Syrian refugees, while Brazil has granted asylum to more than 2,000. Uruguay has also taken in some Syrians.

• The Philippines offered to accept 3,000 Rohingyas  from Burma and Bangladeshi migrants. Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to temporarily take in 7,000 people. The U.N. Refugee Agency has urged Burma to grant citizenship to the minority Rohingya group. Thousands more are likely to attempt the journey across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

• About 50,000 Burundian refugees are currently being moved from the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania to two new camps to ease overcrowding after Nyarugusu’s population rose to more than 160,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees. Last year, Tanzania' said it would grant citizenship to more than 160,000 former Burundian refugees.

•The Kenyan government backtracked on a threat to close the Dadaab refugee complex — the world’s largest and home to about 350,000 Somali refugees — following international pressure. Kenya had feared the camp in the northeast of the country, just 50 miles from the Somalian border, was being used by al-Shabab extremists to plan attacks after 148 people were killed at Garissa University by the militant group last April.