The world is going through a very difficult time where humans are bereft of humanity (“Do not turn hope into despair for migrants,” Jan.11, Gulf Today).

The world should be peaceful, where no one can ever be in the hapless position of a refugee and migrate from one country to other.

Several countries face conflict and are divided, they have become like a corporate world. Stakeholders serve their own interest.

According to new data from the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the growing number of international migrants has now reached as much as 272 million, outpacing even the growth rate of the world’s population.

The figures reflect a jump from 2010, when the global number was at 221 million, and currently international migrants — defined as anyone who changes their “country of usual residence” — make up 3.5 per cent of the global population, compared to 2.8 per cent in the year 2000.

Europe hosts the largest number of international migrants, at 82 million; followed by North America, at 59 million; with 51 million in the United States alone — the largest number in a single nation.

The whole world should come together and work towards peace and stability of the world, there should not be war anywhere anymore.

The ultimate peace should prevail. There should be a world that solves the serious problem of refugees and people who migrate just because of poverty, conflict and persecution.

People put their lives in danger when they migrate from one country to other. It is a collective responsibility of the whole world to address the issue on an urgent basis and make concrete efforts to solve the problem once and for all.

Hashim Shaheen
By email