Urban refugees awareness campaign - Hidden Lives: the untold story of urban refugees

A new awareness campaign on urban refugees is exposing the hidden crisis of millions of refugees who disappear into the urban sprawl and the problems they face every day.

For most people, the word 'refugee' conjures up images of endless rows of white tents spread out over a dusty plain. But this does not give an accurate picture of what life is like for millions of refugees in the 21st century. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than half of the world's refugees today live in the slums of some of the world's biggest cities such as Bangkok, Amman, Nairobi and, maybe more surprisingly, London. Refugees fleeing conflict or natural disaster are now more likely to head for urban areas than refugee camps. Many of them are unable to return home because of conflict or insecurity and must build new lives in their adopted cities. An estimated 5 million of these urban refugees face distinct challenges as they struggle to rebuild their lives. While many manage to adapt and prosper, others face isolation, poverty and exploitation.