Former Iraqi President Becomes UN Refugee Chief as Global Displacement Hits Record High
Kakuma, 22 March 2026
Barham Salih, who fled Iraq as a teenage refugee and later became the country’s president, now leads global refugee efforts as UN High Commissioner. With over 117 million displaced people worldwide, Salih faces an unprecedented crisis where two-thirds of refugees endure ‘protracted displacement’ lasting decades rather than temporary sanctuary. His ambitious goal: halve long-term displacement within ten years through economic inclusion programmes that enable refugees to work and contribute to host societies, challenging the traditional aid-dependency model.
From Exile to Leadership
Salih’s personal journey from displacement to global leadership began in Iraqi Kurdistan, where he was born in 1960 [1][2]. As a teenager, he fled repression in Iraq, experiencing firsthand the uncertainty and vulnerability that defines refugee life [1][2]. His path eventually led him to become Iraq’s eighth president in 2018, before assuming his current role as UN High Commissioner for Refugees on 1 January 2026 [1][2]. Within days of taking office, Salih visited refugee camps in Kenya and Chad, demonstrating his commitment to understanding conditions on the ground [1][2].
A Crisis of Staggering Proportions
The scale of global displacement that Salih now confronts represents an unprecedented humanitarian challenge. More than 117 million people worldwide have been forced from their homes, a figure that continues climbing as conflicts erupt and humanitarian budgets shrink [2]. The traditional model of refugee protection, predicated on displacement being temporary, has fundamentally collapsed due to prolonged conflicts and stalled political settlements [1]. Today, two-thirds of refugees live in what humanitarian agencies term ‘protracted displacement’ - enduring five, ten, or even twenty years or more without a durable solution [1][2]. ‘Behind every statistic is a life… a person with aspiration, with a right to dignity, with the right to a better future,’ Salih emphasises [1][2].
Economic Inclusion as the Path Forward
Salih’s strategy for addressing this crisis centres on economic inclusion rather than traditional aid dependency. His ambitious goal is to reduce the number of people in long-term displacement dependent on humanitarian assistance by half within a decade [2]. This approach requires enabling refugees to work and contribute meaningfully to host societies, moving beyond the limitations of camp-based assistance [1]. ‘Being a refugee is not meant to be a fate. It is meant to be a temporary condition,’ Salih declared, articulating his vision for transforming how the international community responds to displacement [1][2]. The strategy demands collaboration between development banks, private investors, donor governments, and host countries [2].
Healing and Hope in Kakuma
The reality of protracted displacement is starkly visible in places like Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya, which hosts around 300,000 people [1][2]. Recent initiatives in the camp demonstrate the potential for innovative approaches to refugee support. A four-day workshop concluded on 21 March 2026, where facilitators Rita and Nyanachiek led participants through mindful breathing, movement, and reflection exercises designed to help manage stress and build community connections [3]. Such programmes highlight the importance of addressing not only physical needs but also mental health and social cohesion within refugee populations. The disproportionate burden on low- and middle-income countries like Kenya becomes evident when considering that most displaced people are hosted by nations with limited resources [2]. As Salih noted, ‘We need to help host nations who are mostly, by the way, low-income, middle-income countries’ [2]. His message to young refugees carries particular resonance: ‘To the young people, I say we are going to be working to help you with your agency… Once again, a refugee is meant to be a temporary situation, not a permanent pain’ [2].