Lebanon. Syrian refugee Shadi looks over
the rooftops of Beirut from his balcony in the
Geitawi district. He earns a living tutoring
students in Arabic language over Skype through
the NaTakallam programme, which pairs
displaced persons with learners from around the
world. “Being part of NaTakallam is so positive
for me. It’s more than just teaching,” Shadi says.
© U N H C R / D i e go Ibarra S á n ch e z
Special section:
Urban
Refugees
Most refugees are now
based in urban areas
Globally, more people live in urban than rural areas. In 2018, about
55 per cent of the world’s population was urban, compared with only
30 per cent in 1950. However, this figure masks important differences,
with urbanization most common in developed regions such as North
America and Europe. About half the population of Asia is urban, as is
43 per cent of Africa. The refugee population reflects these global
changes, both in terms of the regions from which refugees originate
and the areas to which they move in countries of asylum.
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unhcr > Global trends 2018