It is mainly the armed conflicts in the Sahel area, the large area south of the Sahara that concern the UNHCR.
2.9 million have been forced to leave their homes in the area.
Due to the insecurity, the economic hardship, sometimes caused by the Covid crisis or by climate change with extreme drought as a result, many choose to embark on the risky roads to Europe.
During the journey there, many refugees are exposed to violence, extortion and women are raped or exploited for trafficking.
Some are left to die after being exploited by smugglers or other criminal actors in the area.
Scary testimony
"We encounter frightening testimonies from refugees who have been subjected to brutality and exploited during their attempts to reach the Mediterranean," the UNHCR said in a press release.
UNHCR's strategy is to try to increase the number of places where refugees can seek help and protection.
These can be financial help, food, safe accommodation, care and when you end up in a camp, education for the children.
Furthermore, they want to speed up the asylum processes and increase cooperation between different countries in order to access individuals or groups who exploit the refugees.
More money is needed
The UNHCR calls for increased financial support from UN member states to be able to implement its program, and calls on the states where the refugees arrive to increase co-operation with the countries from which the refugees come, and to continue working with rescue efforts in the Mediterranean.
Last year, more than 1,500 people died in connection with attempts to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, reports UNHCR.