This World Refugee Day comes at a time of grave escalation and deepening danger. As the region teeters on the edge of yet another catastrophic conflict, this time between Iran and Israel, the threat of mass displacement looms larger than ever. The drums of war are not only echoing through Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, but also shaking the very foundations of neighboring states and faraway nations. With each missile launched and each border crossed by violence, the number of refugees is destined to surge. Let there be no mistake: wars create refugees, and we are now standing on the verge of an era-defining humanitarian crisis.
The Migration and Refugee Forum for the Arab World (MARFA) issues an urgent call to action. As conflicts ignite and compound across the Arab region, the already staggering numbers of forcibly displaced persons are set to rise, pushed not only by bombs and bullets but by the collapse of political solutions, the erosion of international protection frameworks, and the continued failure of global powers to uphold justice.
From the relentless bombardment of Gaza to the fragmentation of Sudan, from the smoldering frontlines in Yemen and Syria to the intensifying pressure in Lebanon and Jordan, the region is at a breaking point. Communities that have borne the weight of refugee protection for years, with dwindling resources and vanishing support, are now being asked to brace for yet another wave of displacement, this time on a potentially unprecedented scale.
The violence currently unfolding is not an isolated flare-up. It is the result of decades of impunity, geopolitical manipulation, and disregard for human life. The targeting of civilians, the weaponization of siege, and the slow annihilation of entire populations, most visibly in Gaza, have become normalized, while accountability remains absent. As threats escalate between Iran and Israel, a regional war could unleash new, large-scale displacement that will overwhelm fragile states, destabilize neighboring societies, and send shockwaves across the Mediterranean and beyond.
Let us be clear: the international community is not just failing to respond, it is complicit in the conditions producing this displacement. Refugees are not an accidental byproduct of conflict, they are the human face of failed diplomacy, ignored warnings, and abandoned peace.
Despite this bleak reality, it is local communities (families, neighbors, schools, clinics) who continue to shoulder the burden of dignity and protection. Their solidarity is heroic, but it is not infinite. They are not substitutes for international action. Nor should they be left to manage the fallout of wars they did not start, or crises they did not create.
MARFA calls for immediate and decisive measures. Stop the wars. Protect civilians. End forced displacement. Provide host communities with the tools, funding, and political backing they need, not just to survive the next influx, but to build just, inclusive futures. This means real investment in infrastructure, legal protections, and social cohesion. It also means dismantling the structures of occupation, exclusion, and violence that are at the root of displacement.
On this World Refugee Day, we refuse to speak in neutral terms. This is not a time for reflection, it is a time for alarm. The risk of a new regional war, with mass refugee flows stretching from the Middle East to North Africa and Europe is real, and it is imminent.
We urge governments, international institutions, civil society, and concerned individuals:
Act now. Speak out. Invest in peace, not just aid. Treat displacement not as a symptom, but as a warning.
Refugees are not crises to be managed, they are lives to be protected. And their protection begins with political will.
The future of the people of the region and of a shared global humanity, depends on what we choose to do in this moment.
