The special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, Angelina Jolie Pitt, is asking world leaders to work together.
Speaking at a migration event in London, she says the fear of uncontrolled migration has eroded public confidence, and the ability of governments and international institutions to control the situation.
"It has given space to a false air of legitimacy to those who promote politics of fear and separation. It has created the risk of a race to the bottom, with countries competing to be the toughest in the hope of protecting themselves, whatever the cost or challenge to their neighbours and despite their international responsibilities."
The UN refugee agency says the number of people forcibly displaced worldwide is likely to "far surpass" a record 60 million in 2015, including 20 million refugees driven by the Syrian war and other drawn-out conflicts.
Ms Jolie Pitt says she fears countries will adopt increasingly isolationist policies, instead of acting together to solve the challenge.
"Since no country can seal itself off from the impact of the refugee crisis, such a free-for-all would lead to an even greater set of problems. It would amount to the worst of both worlds failing to tackle the issue, and undermining international law and our values in the process."
Elsewhere in the world, the issue remains on the agenda.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault in Beijing.
Mr Wang says his country will continue to make constructive efforts towards the Syria crisis.
"China has always been in contact with the Syrian government and the opposition groups; we recently invited both sides to come to Beijing for talks. Our job is to help them into dialogue. We have always extended humanitarian support to Syrian refugees and will continue to do so. We also hope to contribute to the rebuilding of Syria in the future after reconciliation."
And Argentina's Foreign Minister, Susana Malcorra, has been meeting her Lebanese counterpart, Gebran Bassil.
She's pledged support for the refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.
"The issue of the refugees is a shared responsibility that the world needs to face and as such we are trying to do our very best. The first step is to support: here we have brought a whole team with all the infrastructure to support. We are also looking into the notion that maybe there are some Syrians that are willing to go to Argentina because there is also a very large Syrian community in Argentina."
She says the only way to solve the problem is to find a political solution.
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