Forced migration facts for kids

An overcrowded train carrying refugees during the partition of India in 1947. Millions of people had to move from their homes.

Forced migration happens when people have to leave their homes or countries. They do not choose to move. This can happen because of danger, violence, or if a government tells them to leave. People might be forced to move or feel threatened if they stay. Someone who has to move this way is called a "forced migrant" or a "displaced person." Sometimes they are called a refugee, but that word has a special legal meaning.

What is Forced Migration?

People move all the time, but usually, they choose to. Forced migration is different. It happens when people's lives, safety, or freedom are in danger. They often have no choice but to leave. In some sad cases, like human trafficking or slavery, people are physically taken from their homes.

Why Do People Have to Move?

Sometimes, a government might make people leave their homes. This can happen for big projects like building dams or military bases. These projects might be for economic development or military reasons. When this happens, whole communities might have to move.

Natural Disasters and Moving

Natural disasters can also cause people to move. Things like floods, earthquakes, or tsunamis can make an area unsafe. People might have to evacuate quickly. Often, this move is only for a short time. People can usually go back home once the area is safe again.

How Many People Are Displaced?

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) tracks how many people are forced to move. For many years, Afghanistan has been the country with the most refugees. Almost half of all refugees are children under 18. Many of these children are separated from their parents, which means they are on their own.

Related pages

• Asylum seeker

Images for kids

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  Syrian and Iraqi migrants arriving in Lesbos, Greece in 2015 seeking refuge.

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  Deportation of people during the dekulakization in 1930–1931.

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  Damage to homes in Nias, Indonesia from the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

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  Children of immigrants from Latin America to the United States, held in the Ursula Detention Center, Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Migración forzosa para niños