UN warns of global refugee crisis

Conflicts are leading to new era of near permanent refugee populations, the head of the United Nation's refugee agency said. Yet rich countries are only willing to take a fraction of those driven forced to flee by drawn-out warfare–especially when it comes to refugees from Afghanistan or Somalia. "As a result of never-ending conflicts, we are witnessing the creation of a number of quasi-permanent, global refugee populations," Antonio Guterres said in a speech to the UNHCR's governing executive committee on Monday. Afghan refugees are spread across some 69 countries, he noted. Peace remains a distant hope in Somalia. Only 61 Somalis were able to return home last year. "I do not believe there is any group of refugees as systematically undesired, stigmatised and discriminated against," he said.