Africa may represent the bleakest picture. Displacement created by ethnic and political conflicts, by drought and disaster, finds Eritreans in Sudan, Angolans in Zaire, Liberians and Chadians in Nigeria, Hutu and Tutsi struggling in Rwanda. And nearly two million more have fled across their border to Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Across the globe the same pattern of displacement and migration shift repeats itself-Afghanis to Pakistan, Khmers to Thailand and Malaysia, Albanians to Italy. Since 1991 some 40,000 Haitians have attempted passage to the United States.
Refugees are on the move by the millions.
Migration patterns, whether internal or international, are often toward the cities. By the year 2005, estimates the United Nations, urban areas are expected to be home to more than half of the world's people. And migration will be a significant reason for that growth. Bearing the major brunt of today's refugee problem are the Third World countries and cities. Squatter settlements spring up and cling to the hillsides of Rio de Janeiro and Lima.