History of Refugee in Timeline

A refugee is defined by the UNHCR as someone forced to flee their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution, armed conflict, violence, or serious public disorder. This persecution can be based on their identity, beliefs, or expressions. Until granted refugee status by a host country or the UNHCR after formally seeking asylum, they may be referred to as asylum seekers. The core element is the inability to return home safely due to credible threats to their well-being and safety.

1912: The Balkan Wars Cause Mass Displacement

The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 resulted in 800,000 people being displaced from their homes.

1913: The Balkan Wars Cause Mass Displacement

The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 resulted in 800,000 people being displaced from their homes.

1914: World Day of Migrants and Refugees Established

Since 1914, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees has been celebrated in January each year by the Roman Catholic Church, after it was instituted by Pope Pius X.

1915: Armenians Leave Turkish Asia Minor

In 1915, the League of Nations commission expanded its mandate to include over one million Armenians who left Turkish Asia Minor in 1915 and 1923 due to the Armenian genocide.

1916: Evolution of the word Refugee

Around 1916, the word refugee evolved from meaning 'one seeking asylum' to 'one fleeing home,' particularly applied to civilians in Flanders escaping fighting during World War I.

1917: Russian Revolution Start

In 1917, the Russian Revolution began, leading to a civil war. This caused about 1,500,000 people to flee, mostly aristocrats escaping the Communist government.

1920: Mass Jewish Emigration

In the period of 1881-1920, more than 2 million Russian Jews emigrated due to the repeated waves of pogroms that swept Eastern Europe.

1921: League of Nations High Commission for Refugees

In 1921, the League of Nations created the High Commission for Refugees and appointed Fridtjof Nansen as its head, charged with assisting approximately 1,500,000 people who fled the Russian Revolution of 1917 and subsequent civil war.

1921: Establishment of the Commission for Refugees

In 1921, the League of Nations established its Commission for Refugees, marking the first modern definition of an international refugee status.

1921: Emergency Quota Act

In 1921, the U.S. Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act.

1923: Expansion of Refugee Mandate

In 1923, the League of Nations commission expanded its mandate to include over one million Armenians who left Turkish Asia Minor in 1915 and 1923 due to the Armenian genocide.

1923: Population Exchange Between Greece and Turkey

In 1923, the population exchange between Greece and Turkey involved about two million people, mainly Anatolian Greeks and Muslims in Greece, who were forcibly repatriated and denaturalized by a treaty promoted by the international community as part of the Treaty of Lausanne.

1924: Immigration Act of 1924

In 1924, the U.S. Congress passed the Immigration Act which aimed at restricting Southern and Eastern Europeans.

1930: Establishment of Nansen International Office for Refugees

In 1930, the Nansen International Office for Refugees (Nansen Office) was established as a successor agency to the commission.

1933: Refugees Fleeing Nazism

Between 1933 and 1939, about 200,000 Jews fleeing Nazism were able to find refuge in France.

1933: League Creates High Commission for Refugees Coming from Germany

In 1933, due to the rise of Nazism and the increase in refugees from Germany, the League of Nations created a high commission for refugees coming from Germany.

1933: Ratification of the Refugee Convention

In 1933, the Nansen Office managed to lead fourteen nations to ratify the Refugee Convention, an early attempt at a human rights charter.

1935: Reich Citizenship Law

In 1935, Jews were stripped of German citizenship by the Reich Citizenship Law of 1935.

July 1936: Definition of Refugee from Germany

On July 4 1936, an agreement was signed that defined a refugee coming from Germany as someone who did not possess any nationality other than German and did not enjoy the protection of the German government.

December 1937: German Reich as of 31 December 1937

The Berlin declaration of June 5 1945 confirmed the Allied-occupied Germany according to the Yalta Conference, which stipulated the continued existence of the German Reich as a whole, which would include its eastern territories as of 31 December 1937.

1937: Polish Western Border

The Potsdam Agreement, Article VIII signed on August 2 1945, defined the Polish western border as that of 1937.

October 1938: Expansion of High Commission Mandate

After October 1 1938, the mandate of the High Commission was expanded to include persons from Austria and Sudetenland, which Germany annexed after the Munich Agreement.

December 1938: Dissolution of the Nansen Office and High Commission

On December 31 1938, both the Nansen Office and High Commission were dissolved and replaced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees under the Protection of the League.

1938: Nobel Peace Prize Awarded

In 1938, the Nansen International Office for Refugees was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work, including the Nansen passport.

March 1939: Count of Refugees from Czechoslovakia

According to the Institute for Refugee Assistance, on March 1 1939, the count of refugees from Czechoslovakia stood at almost 150,000.

1939: Spanish Republicans Flee to France

In 1939, 500,000 Spanish Republicans, soldiers and civilians, fled to France after their defeat by the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.

1943: Creation of UNRRA

In 1943, the Allies of World War II created the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) to provide aid to areas liberated from Axis powers, including parts of Europe and China.

September 1944: Start of Population Transfer to Soviet Ukraine

In September 1944, the population transfer of Ukrainians to Soviet Ukraine commenced, following the establishment of a new Poland-Soviet border.

1944: Deportation of Ethnic Germans

Although not approved by Allies at Potsdam, in 1944, hundreds of thousands of ethnic Germans living in Yugoslavia and Romania were deported to slave labor in the Soviet Union, to Allied-occupied Germany.

1944: Soviet Capture of Eastern Poland

In 1944, the Soviet armed forces captured eastern Poland from the Germans and unilaterally declared a new frontier between the Soviet Union and Poland approximately at the Curzon Line.

February 1945: Teheran Conference and the Yalta Conference

Despite protestations from the Polish government-in-exile in London and the western Allies at the Teheran Conference and the Yalta Conference of February 1945, the Soviets unilaterally declared a new frontier between the Soviet Union and Poland.

February 1945: Yalta Conference Repatriation Agreement

In February 1945, the United States and United Kingdom signed a Repatriation Agreement with the USSR at the conclusion of the Yalta Conference, leading to the forcible repatriation of Soviet citizens regardless of their wishes.

May 1945: German Surrender

After the German surrender on May 7 1945, the Allies occupied the remainder of Germany.

May 1945: End of War and Forced Repatriation Orders

In May 1945, as World War II ended, British and United States civilian authorities ordered their military forces in Europe to deport millions of former USSR residents to the Soviet Union, including individuals who had established citizenship elsewhere.

June 1945: Berlin Declaration

The Berlin declaration of June 5 1945 confirmed the Allied-occupied Germany according to the Yalta Conference, which stipulated the continued existence of the German Reich as a whole.

July 1945: Potsdam Conference

When the Allies met in Potsdam on July 17 1945 at the Potsdam Conference, a chaotic refugee situation faced the occupying powers.

August 1945: Potsdam Agreement Signed

The Potsdam Agreement, Article VIII signed on August 2 1945, defined the Polish western border as that of 1937, placing one fourth of Germany's territory under the Provisional Polish administration.

1945: Voluntary Departure of Ukrainians from Poland

In 1945, approximately 200,000 Ukrainians left southeast Poland more or less voluntarily, amidst the backdrop of population exchanges between Poland and Soviet Ukraine.

1945: Founding of the United Nations

In 1945, the United Nations (UN) was founded. The International Refugee Organization was a temporary organization of the UN.

April 1946: Founding of the International Refugee Organization

On April 20, 1946, the International Refugee Organization (IRO) was founded to take over the functions of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.

May 1946: End of Population Transfer to Soviet Ukraine

In May 1946, the population transfer of Ukrainians to Soviet Ukraine concluded, which began in September 1944 following the imposition of the new Poland-Soviet border at the Curzon Line.

June 1946: Definition of Palestinian Refugees by the UN

The United Nations defined Palestinian refugees as persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict.

December 1946: UN General Assembly Adopts IRO Constitution

On December 15, 1946, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Constitution of the International Refugee Organization, defining the agency's operations but controversially excluding "persons of German ethnic origin" expelled into postwar Germany.

July 1947: IRO Takes Over UNRRA Functions

In July 1947, the International Refugee Organization (IRO) officially took over the functions of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA).

1947: Start of Palestinian Refugee Crisis

Starting in 1947 and continuing through 1949, Palestinian refugees fled what is now the state of Israel, with these refugees being assisted by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

1947: End of Forced Repatriation Operations

The forced repatriation operations of former USSR residents by British and United States forces, which began after World War II, concluded in 1947.

May 1948: Definition of Palestinian Refugees by the UN

1948: Establishment of Israel

After the establishment of Israel in 1948, Israel accepted more than 650,000 Jewish refugees by 1950.

1948: Palestinian Exodus During 1948 Palestine War

During the 1948 Palestine War, roughly 700,000 Palestinian Arabs, constituting about 85% of the Palestinian Arab population in the territories that became Israel, were either expelled from or fled their homes.

1948: Creation of UNRWA After 1948 War

Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which led to a significant refugee crisis, the UN created the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), responsible for assisting displaced Palestinian refugees.

1948: Enactment of the Displaced Persons Act

In 1948, the U.S. Congress enacted the temporary Displaced Persons Act after World War II, allowing some European refugees to enter the country.

1948: Start of Palestinian Refugee Crisis

Starting in 1947 and continuing through 1949, Palestinian refugees fled what is now the state of Israel, with these refugees being assisted by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

1949: Start of Palestinian Refugee Crisis

Starting in 1947 and continuing through 1949, Palestinian refugees fled what is now the state of Israel, with these refugees being assisted by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

December 1950: Establishment of UNHCR

On December 14, 1950, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in Geneva, Switzerland, to protect and support refugees.

1950: Israel Accepts Jewish Refugees

After the establishment of Israel in 1948, Israel accepted more than 650,000 Jewish refugees by 1950.

1950: End of the Expulsions of the German Population

Although not approved by Allies at Potsdam, hundreds of thousands of ethnic Germans living in Yugoslavia and Romania were deported to slave labor in the Soviet Union, to Allied-occupied Germany, and subsequently to the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and this entailed the largest population transfer in history. The expulsions of the German population ended in 1950.

1951: Convention refugee status

Convention refugee status is given only to persons who fall within the refugee definition of the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol.

1951: Refugee Convention

In 1951, a convention established certain rights for individuals granted refugee status. However, not all countries have ratified this convention, and some lack legal procedures for asylum seekers.

1951: Refugee Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention

In 1951, refugee rights, encompassing customary law, peremptory norms, and international legal instruments, were established. A refugee has the right to employment if the entity granting refugee status has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention.

1951: 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

In 1951, the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees outlined the foundation for international refugee law, including the right to non-refoulement, which is the right not to be returned to a place of persecution.

1951: Legal Definition of Refugee

In 1951, the legal definition of a refugee was established under the Refugee Convention, but it does not include internally displaced persons (IDPs).

1951: Lack of Mandated RSD Method

In 1951, there was no specific method mandated for Refugee Status Determination (RSD) besides commitment to the Refugee Convention, leading to potential political and strategic interests overriding humanitarian concerns in the RSD process.

1951: Criticism of the Policy-Based Definition of Refugee

Since no universally accepted definition for the term "refugee" exists, the academic respectability of the policy-based definition, as outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention, is disputed.

1952: Dissolution of the International Refugee Organization

In 1952, after resettling approximately one million refugees, the International Refugee Organization (IRO) was dissolved.

1953: Refugees Still in Europe

By 1953, over 250,000 refugees were still in Europe, most of them old, infirm, crippled, or otherwise disabled.

1961: Erection of the Berlin Wall

Between the end of War and the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961, more than 563,700 refugees from East Germany traveled to West Germany for asylum from the Soviet occupation.

1965: UNRWA Expanded Definition of Palestinian Refugee

In 1965, UNRWA expanded the eligibility requirements to be a Palestinian refugee to include third-generation descendants.

1967: Convention refugee status

Convention refugee status is given only to persons who fall within the refugee definition of the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol.

1967: New Refugee Wave After the Six-Day War

In 1967, after the Six-Day War, a new wave of refugees emerged, consisting mostly of Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank who were displaced.

1967: Confirmation of the definition of refugee

In 1967, the definition of refugee was basically confirmed by the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.

1967: Legal Definition of Refugee

In 1967, the legal definition of a refugee was established under the Refugee Convention, but it does not include internally displaced persons (IDPs).

1969: OAU adoption of expanded refugee definition

In 1969, the Organization of African Unity adopted the Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, expanding the 1951 definition of refugee.

1969: Legal Definition of Refugee

In 1969, the legal definition of a refugee was established under the Organization for African Unity Convention, but it does not include internally displaced persons (IDPs).

1975: Risk of Terror Attack by a Refugee in the U.S.

Since 1975, the risk of dying in a terror attack by a refugee in the U.S. is 1 in 3.6 billion per year.

1980: UNHCR Registered Refugees Worldwide

In 1980, the number of UNHCR registered refugees worldwide was greater than 8.4 million.

1981: International Migration Review Defines Refugee Studies

In 1981, the International Migration Review defined refugee studies as "a comprehensive, historical, interdisciplinary and comparative perspective which focuses on the consistencies and patterns in the refugee experience,", leading to increased academic interest.

1982: Tanzania grants citizenship to Rwandan refugees

In 1982, Tanzania granted citizenship to 32,000 Rwandan refugees, marking a significant local integration effort.

1982: UNRWA Further Expanded Definition of Palestinian Refugee

In 1982, UNRWA further extended the eligibility requirements to include all descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children, regardless of whether they had been granted citizenship elsewhere.

1984: Latin-American Cartagena Declaration on Refugees

In 1984, the regional, non-binding Latin-American Cartagena Declaration on Refugees included a new definition of refugees.

1988: Azerbaijanis Flee Armenia

In 1988, approximately 228,840 Azerbaijani refugees fled from Armenia due to Armenia's deportation policy against ethnic Azerbaijanis.

1988: Establishment of the Journal of Refugee Studies

In 1988, the Journal of Refugee Studies was established as the first major interdisciplinary journal in the field, marking a significant milestone in the development of refugee studies.

1995: U.S. Committee for Refugees Report

In 1995, the U.S. Committee for Refugees reported that 10 to 15 percent of the 7.5 million Azerbaijani population were refugees or displaced people.

April 2000: Ogata's Statement on Resettlement

In April 2000, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, stated that resettlement could no longer be seen as the least-preferred durable solution for refugees and in many cases, is the only solution.

2000: World Refugee Day

Since 2000, World Refugee Day has been commemorated annually on June 20, following a United Nations General Assembly Resolution. Before this, June 20 was observed as "African Refugee Day" in several African countries.

2001: Sexual Exploitation in West African Refugee Camps

As recently as 2001, young girls in refugee camps in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia were found exchanging sex for money, fruit, or soap, highlighting sexual exploitation as a "mechanism of survival".

2001: Terrorism Arrests Among Refugees Vetted in the US

Between 2001 and 2016, out of 800,000 refugees vetted through the resettlement program in the United States, only five were subsequently arrested on terrorism charges.

2001: Mexico Naturalizes Guatemalan Refugees

In 2001, Mexico naturalized 6,200 Guatemalan refugees, contributing to the local integration of refugees in the region.

2004: EU Directive on minimum standards for refugee definition

In 2004, the European Union passed minimum standards for defining 'refugee' in Directive No. 2004/83/EC, which also includes provisions for subsidiary protection for individuals fleeing war or facing death penalty, torture, or inhuman treatment in their home countries.

2006: Lowest Number of UNHCR Registered Refugees Since 1980

In 2006, there were 8.4 million UNHCR registered refugees worldwide, the lowest number since 1980.

2011: UNHCR recognition of additional refugees

As of 2011, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognizes additional persons as refugees, beyond the 1951 definition.

2011: Utøya Norway Terror Attack by Anders Behring Breivik

In 2011, the Utøya Norway terror attack by Anders Behring Breivik demonstrated the impact of threat perception on a country's risk from domestic terrorism, in particular ethno-nationalist extremism.

2013: UNHCR Conducts Refugee Status Determinations

In 2013, the UNHCR conducted Refugee Status Determinations (RSD) in more than 50 countries and jointly with governments in another 20 countries. The UNHCR follows guidelines outlined in the Handbook and Guidelines on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status to determine eligibility.

2013: Kenya and Somalia Sign Tripartite Agreement

In 2013, the governments of Kenya and Somalia signed a tripartite agreement to facilitate the repatriation of refugees from Somalia, promoting voluntary return.

2014: Syrians Overtake Afghan Refugees as Largest Group

In 2014, Syrians had overtaken Afghan refugees (2.7 million), who had been the largest refugee group for three decades.

2014: Tanzania Grants Citizenship to Burundian Refugees

In 2014, Tanzania granted citizenship to 162,000 refugees from Burundi, marking a significant local integration effort.

2014: Armed Conflicts and Refugee Children

In 2014, there were approximately 32 armed conflicts in 26 countries, leading to a high number of refugee children who experience traumatic events affecting their learning capabilities.

2014: Increased Malaria Cases in Germany among Refugees

Since 2014, reports of malaria cases in Germany had doubled compared to previous years, with the majority of cases found in refugees from Eritrea.

2015: Worldwide Refugee Numbers

At the end of 2015, there were 16.1 million refugees worldwide, and with the addition of Palestinian refugees, the total reached 21.3 million. The overall forced displacement was at 65.3 million displaced persons.

2015: Terrorism Investigations Among Iraqis and Syrians Arriving in Germany

In 2015, 17 of the 600,000 Iraqis and Syrians who arrived in Germany were investigated for terrorism.

2015: Syrian Refugees Largest Group

In 2015, Syrian refugees were the largest group at 4.9 million.

2015: Children as a Percentage of Refugees in 2015

In 2015, children made up 51% of the refugee population, and most were separated from their parents or traveling alone.

2015: Attacks Against Asylum-Seekers in Sweden

In 2015, when Sweden received over 160,000 asylum seekers, the influx was accompanied by 50 attacks against asylum-seekers, which was more than four times the number of attacks that occurred in the previous four years.

July 2016: PEW Research Center Survey on Refugees and Terrorism

In July 2016, a PEW Research Center survey across ten European countries found that majorities in eight countries believed refugees increased the likelihood of terrorism in their country.

September 2018: Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services Archived

As of September 2018, websites contain resources that can help school staff better learn to work with refugee students such as Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services Archived 22 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine.

2018: Study on Anti-Refugee Violence

According to a 2018 study in the Journal of Peace Research, states often resort to anti-refugee violence in response to terrorist attacks or security crises, suggesting a scapegoating mechanism.

2018: Donald Trump's Comments on Refugees and Immigrants in Sweden

In 2018, US president Donald Trump commented that high crime rates in Sweden were due to refugees and immigrants.

2020: UNHCR Estimates of Forcibly Displaced People Worldwide

At the end of 2020, the UNHCR estimated the number of forcibly displaced people to be about 82.4 million worldwide, of which 26.4 million were refugees, 4.1 million were asylum seekers, and 48 million were internally displaced.

February 2022: Refugee Crisis in Europe after Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, an ongoing refugee crisis began in Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

May 2022: Number of Ukrainian Refugees Recorded in Europe

By late May 2022, over 8.2 million refugees fleeing Ukraine had been recorded across Europe, while an estimated 8 million others had been displaced within the country.

2022: Increased Risk of Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence during Ukrainian Refugee Crisis

In 2022, during the Ukrainian refugee crisis, concerns about human trafficking and sexual violence have increased. There were indications on online services that the demand for Ukrainian women for sexual purposes went up.