Nearly 69 million people who have fled wars, violence and persecution were forcibly displaced last year, says the UN's refugee agency.

The UNHCR says the biggest regional increase in refugee numbers - a growth of more than 20% - was in Africa - mainly driven by South Sudan's ongoing civil conflict which has forced one million people from their homes.

The ongoing political crisis in DR Congo has also had grave humanitarian consequences. The number of internally displaced people there has doubled in the space of a year, the UN reports.

While 620,800 have fled DR Congo, the country also hosts 537,100 refugees from other countries - including many from South Sudan.

Four out of five refugees remain in countries next door to their own, according to the UN.

The UN suggests that the "the notion that the world’s displaced are mainly in countries of the global north" is misguided.

Their press statement adds:

The data shows the opposite to be true – with fully 85% of refugees in developing countries, many of which are desperately poor and receive little support to care for these populations."