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The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2021
Norwegian Refugee Council | 1 June 2022
The war in Ukraine has highlighted the immense gap between what is possible when the international community rallies behind a crisis, and the daily reality for the millions of people suffering far from the spotlight.
Each year, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) publishes a list of the ten most neglected displacement crises in the world. The purpose is to focus on the plight of people whose suffering rarely makes international headlines, who receive no or inadequate assistance, and who never become the centre of attention for international diplomacy efforts.
This is the list for 2021.
For the first time, all of the ten crises are on the African continent.
That many African countries are figuring high on the list is far from new. For example, the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has become a textbook example of neglect, featuring in this list six times in a row.
Most international media outlets rarely cover these countries beyond ad hoc reporting on new outbreaks of violence or disease, and in several African countries the lack of press freedom is exacerbating the situation. Then there’s donor fatigue, and the fact that many African countries are deemed to be of limited geopolitical interest.
The low level of funding limits the ability of humanitarian organisations both to provide adequate humanitarian relief and to do effective advocacy and communication work for these crises, creating a vicious circle.
Seldom has the selectivity been more striking.
In response to the tragic crisis in Ukraine, we have witnessed an outpouring of humanity and solidarity. Political action has been swift. Donor countries, private companies and the public have all contributed generously. The media has been covering the crisis around the clock. At the same time, the situation is deteriorating for millions of people afflicted by crises taking place in the shadows of the Ukraine crisis.
Hunger levels are on the rise in most of the countries on the neglected crises list, compounded by rising wheat and fuel prices caused by the war in Ukraine. Parents have been forced to cut back on meals for their already malnourished children. Humanitarian organisations have been consistently sounding the alarm since the start of 2022, but the necessary action is yet to be taken by the international community.
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The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2021
1. DR CONGO...
2. BURKINA FASO...
3. CAMEROON...
4. SOUTH SUDAN...
5. CHAD...
6. MALI...
7. SUDAN...
8. NIGERIA...
9. BURUNDI...
10. ETHIOPIA...
Conclusions
While each of the ten crises outlined in this report should be given dedicated support and attention, we can draw several broad conclusions across them:
Once on the neglected crises list, it is difficult for a country to move off it. Out of the ten, seven have featured on the list repeatedly during recent years. This points to a vicious cycle of international political neglect, limited media coverage, donor fatigue, and ever-deepening humanitarian needs.
The ten most neglected displacement crises this year are all on the African continent. Addressing them will require overcoming donor fatigue, finding lasting political solutions, and reassessing the effectiveness of years of humanitarian response.
...
Norwegian Refugee Council | 1 June 2022
The war in Ukraine has highlighted the immense gap between what is possible when the international community rallies behind a crisis, and the daily reality for the millions of people suffering far from the spotlight.
Each year, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) publishes a list of the ten most neglected displacement crises in the world. The purpose is to focus on the plight of people whose suffering rarely makes international headlines, who receive no or inadequate assistance, and who never become the centre of attention for international diplomacy efforts.
This is the list for 2021.
For the first time, all of the ten crises are on the African continent.
That many African countries are figuring high on the list is far from new. For example, the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has become a textbook example of neglect, featuring in this list six times in a row.
Most international media outlets rarely cover these countries beyond ad hoc reporting on new outbreaks of violence or disease, and in several African countries the lack of press freedom is exacerbating the situation. Then there’s donor fatigue, and the fact that many African countries are deemed to be of limited geopolitical interest.
The low level of funding limits the ability of humanitarian organisations both to provide adequate humanitarian relief and to do effective advocacy and communication work for these crises, creating a vicious circle.
Seldom has the selectivity been more striking.
In response to the tragic crisis in Ukraine, we have witnessed an outpouring of humanity and solidarity. Political action has been swift. Donor countries, private companies and the public have all contributed generously. The media has been covering the crisis around the clock. At the same time, the situation is deteriorating for millions of people afflicted by crises taking place in the shadows of the Ukraine crisis.
Hunger levels are on the rise in most of the countries on the neglected crises list, compounded by rising wheat and fuel prices caused by the war in Ukraine. Parents have been forced to cut back on meals for their already malnourished children. Humanitarian organisations have been consistently sounding the alarm since the start of 2022, but the necessary action is yet to be taken by the international community.
...
The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2021
1. DR CONGO...
2. BURKINA FASO...
3. CAMEROON...
4. SOUTH SUDAN...
5. CHAD...
6. MALI...
7. SUDAN...
8. NIGERIA...
9. BURUNDI...
10. ETHIOPIA...
Conclusions
While each of the ten crises outlined in this report should be given dedicated support and attention, we can draw several broad conclusions across them:
Once on the neglected crises list, it is difficult for a country to move off it. Out of the ten, seven have featured on the list repeatedly during recent years. This points to a vicious cycle of international political neglect, limited media coverage, donor fatigue, and ever-deepening humanitarian needs.
The ten most neglected displacement crises this year are all on the African continent. Addressing them will require overcoming donor fatigue, finding lasting political solutions, and reassessing the effectiveness of years of humanitarian response.
...
