World Vision, a global humanitarian organization, has raised an alarming alarm about the increasingly dire conditions faced by displaced and refugee children worldwide. A combination of escalating hunger and violence, coupled with inadequate funding, poses a significant risk to their well-being, according to the organization’s latest report. These findings come just ahead of World Refugee Day, observed annually on June 20th.
The organization’s annual survey presents a distressing picture, revealing a sharp increase in hunger and violence compared to figures from 2021 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children in conflict-affected countries like Syria, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Afghanistan are facing even greater challenges.
Amanda Rives, Senior Director of Disaster Management at World Vision, highlighted the urgent needs of children in these countries, stating, “The situation for children in these countries is now more critical than it has been in years. Today, millions of children are struggling to survive in refugee camps. A distressing number are being forced into child labor or early marriages in order to survive, and many are missing out on education and a normal childhood.”
Parents of these children are deeply concerned, with over 41% of surveyed families reporting an increased risk of violence to their children—an increase from 30% in 2022. Insufficient resources are driving desperate decisions, such as pulling children out of school to work or marry at a young age.
Access to education has become a luxury that few can afford, as only 11% of households are able to fully cover education expenses—a significant decline from 31% in 2022. The financial strain is so severe that families are resorting to increased borrowing just to meet basic needs like food.
The World Vision report reveals that children in displacement camps are more than twice as likely to be forced into labor compared to those in other locations. The rates of child marriage in countries like Afghanistan and Niger are particularly concerning, as families feel compelled to make unthinkable choices in order to prevent starvation.
Despite the grim realities, the majority of refugee families surveyed still hold dreams of rebuilding their countries and providing for their families. However, with a high number of malnourished children unable to attend school and a lack of funding, the future remains bleak.
Rives emphasizes, “There is sufficient money and resources in the world. The increasing figures of hunger, child labor, and child marriage are unacceptable.” She calls for global empathy and emphasizes that with the right support, refugees can be architects of their own futures. “Refugees and displaced families need immediate prioritized funding. Their children deserve a childhood. They deserve dignity, and they should not be forgotten.”
The conclusions of the report are based on a survey conducted between March and April 2023, covering 18 countries and 847 households. The full report, titled “Invisible and forgotten: Displaced children hungrier and at more risk than ever,” can be accessed on the World Vision website.
