Violent conflicts, extreme climate events, deadly diseases and global economic shocks threaten the lives of children all over the world. Since the beginning of this century, more people worldwide have been forcibly displaced from their homes than ever before.
This year, almost 300 million people are expected to be in urgent need of humanitarian aid – that’s one in 27 people. And this includes an entire generation of children. As the media spotlight focuses on crises such as the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, there’s a risk that other crises may be forgotten. Here are ten crises we shouldn’t forget about in 2024.
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Life has been turned completely upside down for countless children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Violent conflicts between armed groups are driving millions of people from their homes, destroying infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and worsening hunger and poverty. Families have not just lost their homes and livelihoods but have to deal with violence and abuse on a daily basis. The country is also suffering from the effects of the climate crisis. Increasingly frequent and severe droughts and floods devastate homes, displace families, destroy harvests and increase the risk of outbreaks of disease.
2. MYANMAR
The need for humanitarian aid in Myanmar continues to increase due to the armed conflict and the economic crisis. This year, a third of the population will need humanitarian aid – including six million children.
The effects of the economic crisis are forcing families to take drastic measures. Parents are often forced to take their children out of school, send them to work, marry them off early or even exchange them for money.
3. SUDAN
Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in its history. Since the outbreak of fighting in April 2023, almost 25 million people have been dependent on humanitarian aid – including around 14 million children. This situation is compounded by pre-existing challenges, such as outbreaks of disease, the climate crisis and the worsening economic situation.
Over six million people have been driven from their homes. This makes Sudan the country with the highest number of internally displaced people in the world today. With three million displaced children, this also constitutes the largest child displacement crisis in the world.
4. SYRIA
Syria has been engulfed in armed conflict for 13 years. This is an entire lifetime for the country’s children. It was only in October last year that the fighting escalated to its most intense level in four years. This has caused further deaths and injuries and driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
The earthquakes in February last year were a further blow for countless families and their children after twelve years of war. Children are once again vulnerable to significant dangers. In 2024, over 16 million people will need support – the highest number since the start of the crisis.
5. HAITI
In Haiti, children and their families face a deadly combination of escalating violence, deepening political and economic turmoil, widespread poverty, mounting food insecurity and a cholera outbreak. Consequently, almost three million children are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Gang crime is also rife in the country, which leads to violent unrest, roadblocks and an increasing number of kidnappings. Many children are at risk of being recruited into armed gangs.
6. YEMEN
Children in Yemen have been subjected to unrelenting violence for nine years. Years of armed conflict have left more than half of the population in urgent need of food, water and life-saving aid. Children and their families are affected by displacement, food insecurity and limited access to basic services.
The nine years have also left a deadly legacy of explosive weapons. In 2022, an average of one mine or unexploded bomb was triggered by a child every two days. Almost half of all incidents were fatal. Children often step on mines while playing, herding cattle, collecting wood or fetching water.
7. SAHEL REGION
The central Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, is the scene of one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. The region, already plagued by conflict, has been further destabilised by the effects of the climate crisis, especially prolonged periods of drought. Almost 11 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Approximately 70 per cent of refugee movements in the Sahel are linked to conflicts. Security incidents, attacks and kidnappings are a daily reality for people in the country and humanitarian workers on the ground. As with all conflicts, children are affected the most.
8. AFGHANISTAN
This August will mark three years since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan. The situation for children and their families continues to be devastating.
A combination of natural disasters, a severe economic crisis and the collapse of vital services has caused one of the most severe food crises of all time. Families do not have enough money to meet their basic needs. One in every three people suffer from severe hunger and around 41 per cent of children under the age of five are currently acutely malnourished.
9. SOMALIA
Somalia is currently facing one of the worst famines in the world, which is worsened by the fact it is the country most affected by the climate crisis. After a long period of drought, the country was hit by heavy rainfall in the autumn of 2023. The floods pushed the country to the brink of disaster.
As a result of these extreme weather events, the ongoing conflict and rising food prices, around 8.3 million people have lost their livelihoods and are dependent on humanitarian aid. Many children are suffering from acute malnutrition.
10. UKRAINE
More than two years after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, millions of children are still living in a state of emergency. Daily acts of violence, attacks on civilian infrastructure, displacement, severe emotional suffering and the tragic loss of loved ones have become the new normal for them.
It is the fastest growing displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War. More than 15 million people have had to leave their homes since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
WE ARE THERE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
During crises, conflicts and disasters, children’s lives are thrown into turmoil. That is why we are there on the ground in the most difficult situations. We provide everything that children need to recover from these crises and build a future.
Children and families in war and crisis zones need ongoing, long-term support. Thank you very much for your donation. We will use it where it is most needed.