Urban Refugees

Jose ismael and Leonel, together with their family, fled from El Salvador escaping the increasing gang violence. The family used to have a tailoring business in El Salvador but they haven been forced to start a new life in Tapachula. Jose Ismael says "when I watch the TV from El Salvador I see that 40 people day everyday due to the "maras" (gangs)".

Over 60 per cent of the world's 19.5 million refugees and 80 per cent of 34 million IDPs live in urban environments. 

Unlike a camp, cities allow refugees to live anonymously, make money and build a better future. But they also present dangers. Refugees may be vulnerable to exploitation, arrest or detention, and can be forced to compete with the poorest local workers for the worst jobs.

At UNHCR, we work to maximise the skills, productivity and experience that displaced populations bring to urban areas, striving to help those who have lost so much to find the safety and security they deserve. This, in turn, helps to stimulate economic growth and development within host communities, while enhancing universal access to human rights.

In the past, many refugees living in cities were young men with the skills and savvy to survive on their own.

Today, we are seeing increasing numbers of women, who may have been raped or abused before escaping their countries, as well as children and older people who all need special help.

In large and anonymous cities, it can be a challenge to ensure that the displaced find and receive the vital support they need. But, with your support, UNHCR can help refugees to rebuild, wherever they are.