A refugee crisis is a situation where large groups of people — usually forcibly displaced persons or asylum seekers — are unable to access adequate shelter, food, water, sanitation and education, among other essential services. They are exposed to threats, including violence, sexual exploitation, and economic deprivation. These are exacerbated when they cannot legally work in their host countries and are therefore unable to support themselves or their families. They also are more likely to face discrimination and prejudice based on their demographic characteristics.
These situations are often caused by protracted conflict or natural disasters that cause people to leave their homes and communities. They may occur in fragile states or regions where there are security concerns, or they might be the result of an outbreak of mass civil war. They can also result from regional political tensions or from internal instability that leaves a region vulnerable to violence.
Refugees are generally viewed as a threat by host countries, especially if they share ethnic or religious characteristics with local populations that are in conflict. These countries fear destabilization and restrict refugee protection measures, and their refugees are at greater risk of persecution.
In many cases, the underlying causes of a refugee crisis are politicized for strategic purposes by state actors that have military or geopolitical interests in the region. Weaponized migration is a term used to describe these manipulations, and it may be applied to any large group of migrants that are exploited for military or economic gains by challenging states or non-state actors.