The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) annually publishes a report on the world’s most neglected displacement crises, where millions of people are displaced and exposed to various hardships. Burkina Faso has topped the list for the second consecutive year, followed by Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Niger, Honduras, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan. NRC’s secretary-general, Jan Egeland, expressed concern about the neglect of displaced people becoming the new normal where local political elites and the world fail to act despite alarming statistics.
Internally displaced people are those who have been forced to flee their homes within their own country with minimal belongings and resources. These individuals often lack access to basic necessities such as shelter, food, water, medicine, and safety measures, leading to a dire situation. Burkina Faso has become a hotspot for armed violence in Africa’s central Sahel region, resulting in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced. The government’s struggles to address security challenges have further exacerbated the crisis, with two million civilians trapped in blockaded towns across the country.
Cameroon is facing violence stemming from the suppression of Anglophone protests against government marginalization, leading to a separatist conflict in the English-speaking regions. More than 6,000 people have been killed in the conflict, with over a million internally displaced. The DRC has a history of armed violence, with millions displaced across the country due to conflicts fueled by both domestic and foreign actors. Mali saw increased clashes following the withdrawal of a peacekeeping force, resulting in hundreds of thousands internally displaced.
Niger experienced a coup in 2023, leading to increased insecurity and displacement in various regions. Honduras faced widespread violence, organized crime, poverty, and hunger, with a quarter of a million displaced individuals in need of support. South Sudan has been plagued by armed conflicts since 2013, resulting in economic decline, flooding, and drought, pushing millions to flee their homes. The Central African Republic continues to grapple with violence, with one-fifth of the population displaced within the country or as refugees abroad.
Chad saw an influx of refugees from Sudan amidst ethnic attacks, adding to the already significant number of refugees from neighboring countries. Sudan itself is in the grips of a devastating conflict, with millions internally displaced and over a million fleeing across the border. These countries are facing critical humanitarian crises, with urgent intervention needed to address the displacement, violence, and lack of basic necessities for vulnerable populations. The NRC’s report highlights the severity of these neglected crises and the urgent need for global attention and support to alleviate the suffering of millions of displaced individuals.
