The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines a refugee as someone who has been forced to flee their home for reasons of war, persecution, or violence and who is unable or unwilling to return home due to a well-founded fear of persecution on the grounds of their race, religion, nationality, gender, politician opinion, or membership in a particular social group. 

Based on data from 2025, there are 117.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Nearly 36.5 million forcibly displaced people are officially recognized as refugees, 40% of whom are children under the age of 18.   

There is no single “refugee experience” and forced displacement impacts and shapes individuals uniquely. Common factors that force refugees and other displaced youth to flee their homes include: 

• War & armed conflict 
• Ethnic, religious and political persecution  
• Genocide  
• Political instability and government repression 
• Gang violence, crime, and insecurity  
• Transnational terrorism
  
  

Forced displacement has profound impacts on children and youth, significantly shaping their environment, development, and overall sense of safety, control, and belonging. This includes impacts on children’s: 

• Access to consistent, uninterrupted education 
• Language development and communication 
• Emotional well-being and identity formation 
• Family roles and dynamics  
• Access to preventative and ongoing health care 
• Access to proper or consistent nutrition
  
  

At the Refugee Youth Resource Center, we use the term “newcomer youth” to include refugees and other ORR-eligible populations who have resettled in or relocated to the United States. The resources in this section are intended to help those who serve newcomer youth, including refugee resettlement staff, educators, child welfare professionals, health care providers, volunteers, and community-based staff, better understand newcomer youth’s pathways to the U.S., eligibility for services, commonly resettled populations, and effective practices for working with interpreters.