The Global Refugee Crisis

Alexis Huguet
Action Against Hunger, Democratic Republic of Congo

Forced to Flee

A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their home country and sought safety beyond its borders. Refugees are not the only kinds of displaced people: there are also asylum seekers, internally displaced people (people displaced from their homes who stayed in the same country), and stateless people.

Individuals and families flee and seek refuge for many reasons, including violence, persecution, war, poverty, or natural disaster.

01. 02. 03.

Key Facts about the Global Refugee Crisis

More than 1 in every 74 people on Earth has been forced to flee their homes because of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and other severely disruptive events.

 

An aerial view of the crowded Kahda Displacement Camp
120M

People Forcibly Displaced by Persecution, Conflict & Natural Disasters

A Syrian refugee child in Lebanon.
41%

Of Refugees Are Children

Ukrainian refugees face winter weather as they board a bus and cross the border into Moldova.
52%

Of All Refugees Come From Three Countries: Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine

How We Help

Action Against Hunger is proud to support refugees, internally displaced people, and their host communities to reduce malnutrition and to help them rebuild their lives. We are on the front lines of the world’s most serious refugee crises, including the Syrian crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and drought and conflicts in the Horn of Africa.

From Afghanistan to Sudan, Somalia to Bangladesh, we are:

  • Providing lifesaving treatment to malnourished children.
  • Improving access to clean water and safe sanitation.
  • Preventing the spread of disease by promoting healthy hygiene behaviors.
  • Increasing access to nutritious food and income to prevent hunger.
  • Supporting mothers with education on breastfeeding, healthy diets, and childcare practices.
  • Counselling refugees to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
  • Working with governments and partners to build local capacity and improve support systems.

Together, We Can End Hunger

We save the lives of children and their families. We will never give up. Until the world is free from hunger.
Take Action Now

Conflict Drives Displacement

Join Action Against Hunger in urging world leaders to take action to break the deadly cycle of hunger, displacement, and conflict.

In Conflict, Hunger Is Deadlier than Bullets
People work in their fields.
Stuart Tibaweswa
Action Against Hunger, Uganda
A meeting of one of Action Against Hunger's mother-to-mother support groups in Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp.
Lys Arango
Action Against Hunger, Ethiopia
Serhi Mykhalchuk
A mother and child talk with an Action Against Hunger psychosocial worker.
Sébastien Duijndam
Action Against Hunger, Iraq

In Uganda, Action Against Hunger is helping refugees and host communities to improve access to food and income.

Putting Down Roots in Uganda

Once the war broke out, I experienced the difficulties of life in this world.”

— Nyalat, South Sudanese refugee

“Where there is life, there is hope”

With all my heart, I wish for the war to end and for there to be peace in the world.”

— Tatiana, Ukrainian refugee

Lives Upended by Ukraine Conflict

After a crisis, we all need special support to face difficulties and begin our lives again.”

— Andrea Bigio, Program Manager, Iraq

Iraq: Displaced Moms Find a Way to Rebuild

The Drivers of Hunger

Hunger is predictable, preventable, and treatable. But to end hunger, we must first understand and navigate challenging issues that perpetuate the global hunger crisis.

Conflict

Conflict

Conflict is the top driver of hunger.

Climate Change

Climate Change

The global climate crisis is a hunger crisis.

Inequity

Inequity

An unequal world is a hungry world.

Disasters & Emergencies

Disasters & Emergencies

When disaster strikes, more people face hunger as a result.

A refugee camp in Jordan, home to thousands of Syrian refugees.

KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION

Join our community of supporters passionate about ending world hunger.

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A woman hugs her daughter

KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION

Join our community of supporters passionate about ending world hunger.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.