Three reasons to be hopeful
Each year, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) publishes a list of the ten most neglected crises worldwide. Humanitarian assistance should be based on needs, and needs alone, but there are some crises that receive far less international attention and support than others.
Some crises appear on the list for several years’ running. For example, ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has placed that country near the top of the list for the last five years.
But there are positive changes too, and these should be celebrated. Significant improvements can lift a crisis out of the list in the space of just one year. These developments give us hope for a future where no-one’s suffering is ignored.
Read this year’s Neglected Crises List
Peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia
Violence and conflict between communities meant that Ethiopia was the country with the highest number of newly displaced people within its borders in 2018. Displaced people often live in grim conditions, and face food shortages due to conflict and drought. Despite the suffering, the humanitarian appeal for support was only 56 per cent funded, and many people received no or limited assistance.
This meant that Ethiopia was the ninth most neglected crisis in the world in last year’s list.
But during 2019, the country began to attract attention from the world’s media when its prime minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, won the Nobel Prize for Peace for his role in building peace, reconciliation and democracy. In the same year, there were 450,000 fewer displaced people.
When NRC’s Secretary General, Jan Egeland, visited the country in June 2019, he said that he was “astounded by the country’s economic and social achievements, including its ability to welcome refugees from war-torn countries like South Sudan and Somalia without complaint”.
These vast achievements have meant that not only is the crisis not included in the latest Neglected Crises List, but that it has dropped to 24th place.
More attention for CAR’s forgotten crisis
The crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s worst in terms of the percentage of the population affected. A quarter of the country’s population has been displaced. The incredibly fragile security situation, combined with media and political neglect, has placed CAR near the top of the Neglected Crises List year after year. Last year, it occupied third place.
But in 2019, coverage of the humanitarian appeal was much larger, and there have also been small, but significant, improvements in the political situation. These changes are reflected in the fact that the country is no longer third but now ninth on the list of the most neglected crises. Since January 2019, 52,000 people have returned to their areas of origin or come back to CAR from abroad. Roukaya, pictured above, is one of many Central Africans who chose to return to the country in 2019 after several years as a refugee in neighbouring Cameroon. Determined to rebuild her life, she returned to her hometown of Berberati where calm and stability has returned.
While it is important to celebrate the progress made in areas such as Berberati, we should also note that the first half of 2020 has seen an unfortunate increase in violent attacks in other parts of the country. The progress in areas like Berberati must encourage us to continue advocating strongly for peace to return to all areas of the country.
Sudan’s transition to democracy
Sudan has suffered under a repressive government for more than 30 years. Conflict and economic crisis have pushed millions of Sudanese to rely on humanitarian assistance, and almost two million to flee their homes. In addition, Sudan is hosting more than a million refugees from neighbouring countries. Yet it was the 11th most neglected crisis last year.
In 2019, a citizen-led revolution brought in a transition government that indicates it is willing to put Sudan’s people first. The country has now embarked on a path to peace and human rights. NRC was one of 13 aid agencies expelled from Sudan by former President Bashir’s regime in 2009. But with the new government being open to international aid, NRC has been welcomed back to operate in the country.
These positive changes after decades of dictatorship has meant that Sudan has dropped to 17th place on the list.
Despite these significant developments, however, the humanitarian appeal for 2020 is only 24 per cent funded so far. And because of the ongoing economic crisis, the relative stability is fragile. It is vital that the humanitarian response receives more funding to help those in need at this pivotal time for the country.
What can we learn from these improvements?
Relieving the suffering of millions worldwide often seems out of reach, especially for ordinary people without a platform or vast resources.
The crises affecting those living in Ethiopia, CAR and Sudan, and other countries worldwide, continues. Millions of people are hungry, homeless, jobless and face discrimination and violence on a daily basis.
But this does not mean that there is no hope.
Michelle Delaney, Specialist Media Adviser at NRC, who was part of the team who put this year’s list together, said:
“Humanitarian aid should be based on needs alone, not to win political points or votes. These positive improvements show the impact of giving displaced people a voice. This is what drives us at NRC, and we are determined to see further improvements for the people we serve throughout this year too.”
By focussing on improvements such as these we can embark on a path towards a world where human suffering is no longer ignored. And where action can make a real difference.