The U.N. refugee agency said Thursday that the number of people around the world forced to abandon their homes likely increased to more than 84 million in the first half of this year, an increase fueled in particular by conflicts in Africa.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the number of displaced people — most of them within their own countries — was up from 82.4 million at the end of 2020.

The agency’s head, Filippo Grandi, said in a statement that the international community is failing to prevent violence, persecution and human rights violations, which continue to drive people from their homes.

Abdullahi Hassan reports.