Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has experienced a complex humanitarian crisis, with children bearing the heaviest burden. Conflict, natural disasters, and poverty have driven a hunger emergency, while a deadly cholera outbreak has sickened over 80,000 people. Families are facing rising food insecurity in parts of the Upper Nile state, and children are at greatest risk of malnutrition, disease, and displacement.

Adding to this crisis, the conflict in neighboring Sudan has forced hundreds of thousands of refugees and returnees into South Sudan since May 2023.

South Sudan crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

Explore facts, and frequently asked questions about the South Sudan crisis, and learn how you can help impacted communities.

• Fast facts: South Sudan crisis
• What is the current humanitarian situation in South Sudan?
• How is the South Sudan crisis affecting children?
• What is World Vision doing to help impacted families in South Sudan?
• Where is World Vision working in South Sudan?
• How can I help the children and families affected by the crisis in South Sudan?

Fast facts: South Sudan crisis

• South Sudan became the world’s youngest nation and Africa’s 54th country on July 9, 2011.
• Conflicts in 2013 and 2016 undermined early progress, worsening humanitarian needs, according to the World Bank.
• Four consecutive years of record flooding destroyed livelihoods, killed livestock, and displaced families, have contributed to the hunger crisis.
• An estimated 7.7 million people were projected to face crisis-level food insecurity between April and July 2025. Of those, an estimated 2.3 million are children under 5.
• A widespread cholera outbreak that began in late 2024 has spread across 17 of 18 states, killing more than 700 people.
• The war in Sudan has displaced hundreds of thousands of people into South Sudan, compounding hunger and health emergencies.

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What is the current humanitarian situation in South Sudan?

South Sudan is facing overlapping emergencies that are pushing millions of people to the brink of survival. Women and children bear the greatest burden of violence, displacement, disease outbreaks, and food insecurity.

• Cholera emergency: Since late 2024 and accelerating in 2025, cholera has spread across multiple states, especially in flood-affected and displacement sites.
• Conflict spillover: The war in Sudan has significantly aggravated South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, triggering a wave of refugees and returning citizens seeking safety within South Sudan’s borders.
• Extreme weather: Successive years of severe drought, followed by floods, have resulted in loss of lives, crops, and livestock, deepening hunger and displacement.

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How is the South Sudan crisis affecting children?

Children are most vulnerable in this crisis:

• Over 2 million children under 5 have been at risk of acute malnutrition, including severe wasting, in 2025.
• Cholera, malaria, and other preventable diseases spread quickly in crowded displacement camps.
• Conflict and repeated displacement keep children out of school, disrupting their stability and safety.
• Some children are exposed to recruitment by armed groups, while others face continued displacement and loss, or early marriage, as families struggle to survive.

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What is World Vision doing to help impacted families in South Sudan?

World Vision has been serving in the area that is present-day South Sudan since 1989, standing alongside children and families through decades of conflict, hunger, and displacement. Today, our staff there are leading the South Sudan humanitarian response, providing lifesaving aid and long-term recovery assistance.

In 2024, World Vision reached more than 3.1 million people, including 2.6 million vulnerable children, with emergency food assistance, clean water, health and nutrition services, safe sanitation, shelter, education, and child protection.

Our response includes:

• Delivering emergency food aid and food security programs to fight hunger and malnutrition.
• Supplying access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to prevent the spread of disease.
• Supporting health and nutrition programs for mothers and children.
• Strengthening protection and peacebuilding programs to safeguard children and empower communities.

World Vision remains steadfast in our commitment to the people of South Sudan, aiming to improve the lives of 3 million children by the end of 2025.

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Where is World Vision working in South Sudan?

World Vision has a direct presence in 27 counties across South Sudan and, through partners, an additional 22 counties that cover the country’s most impoverished and crisis-affected regions.

We are also supporting refugees and returnees from the Sudan crisis, particularly in Upper Nile and Greater Bahr El Ghazal, including border areas. By working with donors, local organizations, and communities, we help families meet their urgent needs while building resilience against future shocks such as flooding, conflict, displacement, and economic crisis.

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How can I help children and families affected by the crisis in South Sudan?

• Pray: Lift up children, families, and humanitarian workers who come to their aid.
• Give: Help meet the most urgent needs of children and families suffering from the hunger crisis.

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Syria remains one of the largest displacement crises globally, with more than 13 million people forcibly displaced since the conflict began in 2011. Following a recent transition in the Syrian government in late 2024, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have started to return from other countries, hoping for greater stability. However, children of Syria continue to endure devastating hardships, including ongoing hostilities, repeated displacement, public health emergencies, and impacts from the destructive earthquake of 2023. Renewed fighting in northwest Syria in late November 2024 and continuing into 2025 has displaced more than 1.2 million people — the majority children and women — putting their lives and safety at risk.

Syrian refugee crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Syrian refugee crisis
• What’s the latest humanitarian situation in Syria?
• Impact of the ongoing conflict in Syria
• How did the 2023 earthquake affect Syrian refugees?
• Where do Syrian refugees live?
• How has the Syrian conflict affected the children of Syria?
• What is World Vision doing to help people impacted by the crisis in Syria?
• How long has World Vision worked in the Middle East?
• How can I help vulnerable Syrian children and their families?

Fast facts: Syrian refugee crisis

• In 2024, an estimated 16.7 million people in Syria (approximately 70% of the population) needed humanitarian aid, according to U.N. agencies.
• Over 90% of the Syrian population lives below the poverty line.
• Syria has 7.4 million internally displaced people, the highest since the conflict began.
• Neighboring Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) hosts over 2.6 million Syrian refugees, as of June 19, 2025.
• Approximately 500,000 Syrians have returned to their homes from abroad since the transition in government in late 2024.
• As of April 2024, nearly 7.5 million children in Syria needed humanitarian assistance, as reported by the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
• Approximately 2 million Syrian refugee children are out of school, with an additional 1.6 million at risk of dropping out.
• A 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023, devastated northwest Syria and southeast Turkey, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
• The conflict in Syria began on March 15, 2011, escalating from peaceful protests to full-scale violence.

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What’s the latest humanitarian situation in Syria?

Since 2011, the conflict in Syria has forced millions of people from their homes, with most seeking safety and refuge in neighboring countries across the Middle East. Turkey hosts the largest Syrian refugee population, while many others have found safety in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.

The escalation of hostilities that began on November 28, 2024, has further strained citizens, infrastructure, and humanitarian access and operations. Following the transition in government in late 2024, more than 500,000 Syrians have returned from abroad, according to UNHCR estimates as of mid-May 2025. Within Syria, an additional 1.2 million internally displaced people have returned to their communities of origin.

Many returnees face significant challenges, including damaged infrastructure, limited services, and ongoing insecurity. Food scarcity is also a growing concern, with bakeries and markets struggling to operate. Public services and critical facilities, including hospitals, power stations, and water supplies, have been disrupted. Healthcare access is severely impacted as health facilities, including main hospitals, have been damaged or closed.

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Impact of the ongoing conflict in Syria

The conflict has devastated Syria and its people:

• Loss of life: Hundreds of thousands of people, including civilians, have died.
• Destroyed infrastructure: Many of the nation’s roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals lie in ruins, limiting essential services.
• Economic implications: High unemployment and poverty prevail, with nearly 13 million people facing food insecurity. Nine out of 10 Syrian refugees struggle to meet their most basic needs.
• Displacement: Over 6.3 million refugees are living abroad, and millions of people are internally displaced.

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How did the 2023 earthquake affect Syrian refugees?

The February 6, 2023, earthquake and aftershocks in southern Turkey and northwest Syria deepened the struggles of displaced Syrians. The disaster worsened displacement, elevated hunger levels and malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare and educational support.

Learn more about World Vision’s response to help vulnerable families impacted by the 2023 earthquake.

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Where do Syrian refugees live?

While Syrian refugees have sought asylum in more than 130 countries, most remain in nearby nations across the Middle East. Turkey hosts the largest share, with around 2.6 million Syrian refugees, followed by significant populations in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.

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How has the Syrian conflict affected the children of Syria?

The war has had a devastating impact on the children of Syria. According to UNICEF, approximately 7.5 million children in Syria urgently need humanitarian aid, with millions forced to flee their homes as refugees. Many Syrian children have never known a time without war. Here’s how the war in Syria is affecting Syrian children today.

• Displacement: Millions of children live in makeshift camps, overcrowded shelters, or streets, often lacking access to necessities like food, water, and medical care.
• Diseases and malnutrition: Malnutrition, poor sanitation and hygiene, and limited healthcare access make children more vulnerable to diseases like cholera. In poor housing, cold weather increases the risk of pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Lack of access to healthy foods weakens them further.
• Education: An estimated 2.4 million children in Syria are out of school, and many have fallen behind in their education. Some schools have been turned into emergency centers for displaced families, disrupting education for tens of thousands of students.
• Child marriage and abuse: Syrian children are more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation in the unfamiliar and overcrowded conditions in refugee camps and informal tent settlements. Families desperate for income may be more prone to arrange marriages for their young daughters in exchange for dowries.
• Child labor: Many children have been forced to work in dangerous and exploitative conditions to help support their families.
• Recruitment of child soldiers: Armed groups and government forces have recruited children to fight in the conflict, putting them in harm’s way and robbing them of their childhood.
• Psychological toll: Many children have experienced trauma, anxiety, and depression and have little access to mental health services.

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What is World Vision doing to help people impacted by the crisis in Syria?

World Vision is responding to the surge in displacement and humanitarian needs across the region and in Syria, working closely with local partners to reach those most affected. From September 30, 2024, to February 28, 2025, World Vision supported over 1.2 million people, prioritizing the well-being of children and families.

After the devastating February 6, 2023, earthquake, we launched more than 50 projects in partnership with local organizations, supporting nearly 1.8 million people. Our earthquake response programs covered a range of critical areas, including child protection; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); livelihoods; health; nutrition; education; and more. Some key highlights of our work include:

• In Turkey, our child protection programming called LIFT (Life in Fullness Together) combines psychosocial support, education, and child protection services to promote child well-being.
• In Jordan and Syria, initiatives like Channels of Hope and Celebrating Families partner with communities of faith to target the root causes of violence.
• Critical WASH interventions were implemented, including responses to cholera outbreaks and the 2023 earthquake.
• Technical skills training, cash-for-work programs, and cash and voucher programs are strengthening family and community resilience.
• Health and nutrition programs continue to serve vulnerable families in northwest and northeast Syria.

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How long has World Vision worked in the Middle East?

World Vision has served in the Middle East region for nearly four decades. We’re dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, and the communities where they live through long-term sustainable development and responding to disasters and crises.

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How can I help vulnerable Syrian children and their families?

You can help Syrian refugees by praying for them, using your gifts to support them, and learning more facts about the Syrian refugee crisis.

• Pray: Join us in lifting the needs of Syrian families caught in the ongoing conflict, refugee children, and our sustained humanitarian response.
• Give: Become a vital partner in helping equip refugee children and families to survive, recover, and rebuild.

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As of the end of 2024, 42.7 million people worldwide are refugees — people forced to flee their home countries due to conflict, violence, persecution, or human rights violations, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in its latest Global Trends report.

Each year on June 20, World Refugee Day, the United Nations and people worldwide honor the strength and resilience of refugees and raise awareness of their needs. Explore the challenges refugees face and learn more about the global refugee crisis below.

Refugees: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Refugees
• What is the definition of a refugee under international law?
• How are refugees different from asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, and migrants?
• How many displaced people are there in the world in 2025?
• What are the top refugee crises in the world right now? 
• What rights and obligations do refugees have under international law?
• How does World Vision gain access to serve refugees and displaced children and families?  
• What is World Vision doing to help refugees?
• What are some of the groups of refugees and displaced people World Vision supports?
• How can I help refugees and displaced children today?

Fast facts: Refugees

• Global displacement totals: In 2024, the number of people forcibly displaced worldwide surpassed 123 million — approximately 1 in every 67 people, according to UNHCR.
• Largest displacement crisis: Sudan now has the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 14.3 million internally displaced people and refugees, surpassing levels caused by Syria’s conflict.
• Main cause of displacement: Armed conflict remains the primary driver of displacement, causing millions to flee their homes in Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine.
• Increase in refugee returns: In 2024, 9.8 million people returned home, including 1.6 million refugees, the highest in 20 years.
• Host countries: Iran, Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), Colombia, and Germany hosted the four largest populations of refugees in 2024, with 3.5 million, 2.9 million, 2.8 million, and 2.7 million, respectively.
• Impact on children: Although children make up less than a third of the global population, they accounted for more than 40% — 49 million — of the world’s refugees in 2024. Approximately 2.3 million children were born as refugees between 2018 and 2024.

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Open the door to hope for refugee children.

Help Refugees

What is the definition of a refugee under international law?

Refugees are people forced to flee their home countries because of persecution, conflict, violence, or other circumstances that place them in need of international protection. Under international law, anyone who meets these criteria is a refugee, although a host country may require asylum seekers to establish a well-founded fear of danger before formally granting them refugee status. The 1951 Refugee Convention outlines refugees’ rights, including the right to non-refoulement — the right of a person not to be returned to a country where they may be persecuted. Refugee protections do not apply to people who have committed serious crimes or pose a security threat.

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How are refugees different from asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, and migrants?

• Refugees are people who flee their home country because of danger or persecution and because they are not protected by their country’s government. A person may fit this definition before being formally granted refugee status.
• Asylum seekers are people who’ve applied for protection — refugee status — on arrival in a country besides their own.
• Internally displaced people (IDPs) are people displaced by conflict, violence, or natural disasters within their home country.
• Migrants are people who move from their usual place of residence, whether internally or internationally, regardless of their legal status or reasons for moving. Although there is no formal legal definition, experts agree on this classification.

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How many displaced people are in the world in 2025?

Today’s numbers are slightly lower than the total reported at the end of 2024. Here’s a breakdown:

• At the end of 2024, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached over 123 million.
• By April 2025, the estimated number had slightly decreased to 122.1 million. This drop likely reflects refugee returns, resettlements, or updated data, according to UNHCR.
• Children are especially affected: Although they make up less than one-third of the global population, they account for more than 40% of all displaced people.

While these numbers can feel overwhelming, behind every one of them is a person — a mother, a child, a neighbor.

Read about the struggles of displaced mothers and their families.

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What are the top refugee crises in the world right now?

At the end of 2024, more than one-third of displaced people came from just four countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine.

Sudan now faces the largest displacement crisis in the world, with an estimated 14.3 million people displaced. This surpasses the number of people displaced by armed conflict in Syria (13.5 million), followed by Afghanistan (10.3 million) and Ukraine (8.8 million)

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What rights and obligations do refugees have under international law?

Refugees have the right to safe asylum and not to be returned to possible persecution in their country of origin. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are entitled to the basic rights of any other foreigner in the host country, especially the right to practice their religion, pursue education, and move about freely. They must follow and respect the laws of the country that accepts them.

Sometimes an influx of refugees is sudden and immense. Refugee camps are set up to provide temporary shelter and safety for them. Aid groups can deliver food, water, and other services in these camps. As time goes on, they sometimes become thriving communities.

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How does World Vision gain access to serve refugees and displaced children and families?

Through our presence in nearly 100 countries, World Vision is well-positioned to meet the needs of displaced people, whether they are in their own country or living as refugees. We coordinate humanitarian activities with national governments and other aid organizations to achieve the best outcomes for people affected by refugee crises.

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What is World Vision doing to help refugees?

We support refugees around the world through:

• Emergency relief, including access to food, clean water, shelter, and other essentials refugees need when displaced by conflict or disaster
• Child protection programs and Child-Friendly Spaces where kids can play, learn life skills, and experience everyday childhood interactions while also receiving psychosocial support to help them and their families navigate the difficulties of displacement
• Education support for refugee children, helping ensure they have the opportunity to learn in safe environments during displacement
• Livelihoods training and cash-for-work programs, focusing on empowering families to thrive and become self-sufficient.

We also partner with local communities and governments, local churches, and international organizations like United Nations agencies — including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) — to go beyond responding to immediate needs and support communities for long-term development.

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What are some of the groups of refugees and displaced people that World Vision supports?

We support millions of people affected by forced displacement across regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America, and beyond. The following are some of the groups we support:

World Vision’s response in Sudan conflict

Since conflict escalated in mid-April 2023, Sudan has faced one of the world’s most rapidly evolving crises. This conflict has led to the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of over 14.3 million people. Food insecurity is likely to worsen as violence continues to spread across Sudan, forcing more people to flee to neighboring countries.

World Vision, one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations in Sudan, has served children, families, and communities in the country from 1983 to 1988 and from 2004 onwards. Since April 2023, our emergency assistance programs in Sudan and the region have supported over 3.2 million people, predominantly women and children, focusing on food security, child protection, health and nutrition, and sanitation and hygiene.

How World Vision supports Syrian refugees and children

At the end of 2024, a quarter of Syria’s population had been uprooted, including 6.1 million refugees and asylum seekers and 7.4 million people displaced within the country. Since the conflict started in 2011, most Syrian refugees have been living in the Middle East, particularly in Turkey.

Following the transition in government in late 2024, more than 500,000 Syrians are estimated to have returned from abroad by mid-May 2025, according to UNHCR. Approximately 1.2 million people displaced within Syria have returned to their areas of origin. However, the journey home to Syria has been difficult, with many facing damaged infrastructure, scarce resources, and ongoing insecurity.

World Vision has supported more than 7.8 million children in the surrounding region, including in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. The 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey further complicated the situation, impacting internally displaced Syrians and Syrian refugees living in Turkey. In partnership with local organizations, World Vision has initiated 39 projects, including healthcare services, health and nutrition assistance, education programs, and psychological support sessions in schools. These critical efforts assisted more than 1.8 million people within the first year of our response.

Help for Ukrainian refugees and displaced people

World Vision has been responding since the onset of the war in Ukraine in late February 2022, which has resulted in over 5 million refugees, as of May 2025. Our dedicated staff in the region swiftly assisted refugees crossing into Romania, offering essentials such as food, shelter, cash assistance, and protection against trafficking. Continuing our response, we’ve partnered with churches and local organizations to support displaced families and their host communities in Romania, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine. In 2024, we’ve supported over 2.1 million people in the region with crucial resources like emergency food assistance, hygiene kits, and child protection programs.

Our support extends beyond immediate relief, including assistance designed to meet long-term needs. For example, our staff are providing psychosocial support and tailored educational programs to address the unique needs of affected children and families.

Responding to the Venezuela crisis

Nearly 7.9 million refugees and migrants have left Venezuelan since 2017 in search of food, employment, and a better life. World Vision supports affected children and families by offering food and nutritional assistance, access to clean water, and essential health and education services in nearby countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.

In Venezuela, we’re working with partner organizations to empower families to improve their children’s lives. As of December 2024, our efforts have supported over 2.58 million people in the affected countries. Our programs focus on child protection, education, food security, access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and livelihoods.

Supporting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Since 2017, the Rohingya people have endured violence, persecution, and human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, prompting many to seek refuge elsewhere. The majority of Rohingya refugees have crossed the border into neighboring Bangladesh.

World Vision has been delivering crucial assistance in Bangladesh since the onset of the crisis. In 2024, we supported over 416,000 people living in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar. Our ongoing work encompasses 34 camps, providing essential aid such as food, clean water, sanitation facilities, and shelter, as well as addressing gender-based violence and child protection. By working in these challenging circumstances, we strive to alleviate suffering and address the critical needs of the Rohingya people.

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How can I help refugees and displaced children today?

• Pray for all who have fled unsafe environments — especially children — and who struggle every day to survive as refugees.
• Give to World Vision’s Refugee Children’s Crisis Fund to support refugee families with life-saving essentials.

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Since 2017, nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees have fled extreme violence in Myanmar, seeking safety in Bangladesh. Most now live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — home to the Kutupalong refugee camp, the largest refugee settlement in the world. Many Rohingya refugees continue to face uncertainty and hardship, with many struggling to recover from traumatic experiences and relying entirely on humanitarian aid. Nearly half of the refugee population are children who have known no other home.

The Rohingya refugee crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how you can help

• Fast facts: Rohingya refugee crisis
• Who are the Rohingya people?
• What caused the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar?
• What are the living conditions in Rohingya refugee camps?
• How is the refugee crisis impacting Rohingya children in Bangladesh?
• How long has World Vision been helping Rohingya refugees?
• How is World Vision responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis?
• How long has World Vision worked in Bangladesh?
• How can I help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?

Fast facts: Rohingya refugee crisis

• In August 2017, hundreds of thousands of stateless Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh in a matter of weeks, fleeing violence in Myanmar.
• The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees described the onset of the 2017 Rohingya refugee crisis as “the most urgent refugee emergency in the world.”
• According to UNICEF, more than 960,000 Rohingya people need humanitarian assistance. Of those, over 499,000 are children.
• Bangladesh, where nearly all the Rohingya refugee camps are located, is among the most natural disaster–prone countries in the world. From April to November, heavy monsoon rains make life more perilous for refugees in the overcrowded camps.
• Rohingya families face overcrowded shelters, food insecurity, poor sanitation, limited healthcare, and few educational opportunities.

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Who are the Rohingya people?

The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group that has historically resided in northern Rakhine State in Myanmar, which shares borders with Bangladesh and India. Although the Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for centuries, they are not recognized as an official ethnic group and have been ineligible for citizenship since 1982, which has rendered them stateless. The Rohingya people were not counted in Myanmar’s most recent census in 2014.

As a result, even before the current crisis, Rohingya children and families endured immense vulnerabilities. Their stateless status leaves them without legal rights and protections, exposing them to various forms of exploitation, including human trafficking, child labor, child marriage, violence, and other abuses.

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What caused the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar?

The Rohingya people have long faced violence and discrimination in Myanmar. Armed conflict escalated in August 2017 in Rakhine State, causing Rohingya to flee to nearby Bangladesh. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation in September of that year as “the world’s fastest-developing refugee emergency and a humanitarian and human rights nightmare.”

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What are the living conditions in Rohingya refugee camps?

Living conditions in Rohingya camps are challenging and substandard. People face overcrowding, inadequate shelter, limited sanitation facilities, scarce access to clean water, limited access to healthcare, and a lack of basic services. These harsh conditions put people at risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and exploitation, especially for children, women, and people with disabilities.

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How is the refugee crisis impacting Rohingya children in Bangladesh?

Rohingya children face significant challenges and vulnerabilities due to the refugee crisis, including:

• Limited educational opportunities: Most children are unable to attend school due to a lack of resources and facilities in refugee camps.
• Health risks: Overcrowded living conditions contribute to many health issues, including the rapid spread of diseases and malnutrition. Also, the lack of essential services, such as access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and adequate healthcare, further endangers Rohingya children. This leaves them vulnerable to preventable illnesses and health-related issues.
• Protection concerns: Rohingya children are at a higher risk of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence, as well as being forced into child labor and child marriages.
• Psychological distress: The difficult experiences of displacement, such as witnessing violence and being separated from family, profoundly impact the mental well-being of Rohingya children.

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How long has World Vision been helping Rohingya refugees?

World Vision has supported Rohingya refugees since 2017, when hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in Myanmar to seek safety in Bangladesh. From September 30, 2024, to January 12, 2025, we supported over 240,500 refugees across 34 Rohingya refugee camps.

Through our dedicated advocacy efforts with international, national, and local governments, World Vision continues to uphold the rights of refugees. Our goal is to ensure the safety and dignity of refugees while advocating for their secure and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar.

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How is World Vision responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis?

World Vision continues to serve Rohingya refugees with a strong focus on the well-being of children and families. Together with community members and partners, we deliver aid that’s dignified, inclusive, and culturally appropriate.  Our ongoing programs include:

• Emergency food assistance and nutrition support
• Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs
• Child protection, education, and psychosocial support
• Advocacy for long-term solutions, including safe and voluntary repatriation

Through our programs, we help empower Rohingya refugees like Shofika (shown above), a 24-year-old woman with a speech disability.  At 16, she fled with her family to Bangladesh, where her speech disability made the already dangerous journey even more perilous. She now lives with nine family members in Camp 13, Cox’s Bazar, navigating the daily struggles of displacement.

Thanks to a partnership between World Vision and the German Foreign Affairs Office called Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies, she discovered new opportunities and hope. This project creates safer environments for children affected by crisis, offering safe spaces, caregiver support, emergency response, and equipping communities to protect children actively. Supported by a caring community and World Vision, Shofika embraces her talents and dreams beyond barriers, and she leads her peers in handicrafts, proving that disability does not define her potential.

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How long has World Vision worked in Bangladesh?

World Vision has served in Bangladesh since 1970, beginning with our disaster relief response to the devastating Great Bhola Cyclone, which claimed at least 300,000 lives. Since then, our programs have focused on the well-being and empowerment of vulnerable children and families, including both refugee and host communities.

How can I help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?

Because Rohingya refugees are not allowed to work due to their lack of citizenship, they rely on aid from World Vision and other humanitarian organizations to meet their daily needs.

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• Pray for children and families who struggle to survive as refugees as the crisis enters another year.

Dear Lord, we pray for the families who are struggling as refugees, especially as the crisis continues into another year. We ask for Your guidance and support for those impacted by this challenging situation. Lord, we pray for strength and resilience for all Rohingya refugees and for the international community to continue offering assistance and solutions to improve lives and livelihoods.

• • Give to World Vision’s Refugee Children’s Crisis Fund to help provide for their needs.

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Edgar Sandoval Sr., president and CEO of World Vision, visits a facility in Bangladesh where Rohingya refugees “shop” for the things their families need.

Chris Huber and Sevil Omer of World Vision’s U.S. staff and Karen Homer, public engagement director for World Vision’s Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, contributed to this article.

The post Rohingya refugee crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help appeared first on World Vision.

Once among Latin America’s most prosperous nations, Venezuela has taken a drastic turn within the last decade due to political unrest and economic decline. The nation remains mired in a humanitarian crisis due to hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and acute shortages of vital resources such as food, medicine, and electricity. This crisis has driven millions of people from Venezuela in search of food, better living conditions, and work opportunities beyond its borders.

The ongoing influx of Venezuelans to neighboring countries has placed a strain on social services, particularly in areas near the borders of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Below are answers to common questions about the Venezuela crisis, how it’s impacting families and children, and what you can do to help.

Venezuela crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how you can help

• Fast facts: Venezuela crisis
• Why is Venezuela in crisis right now?
• How many people have fled Venezuela?
• Where are Venezuelan migrants and refugees going?
• What’s the difference between a migrant, a refugee, and an asylum-seeker?
• How is the Venezuela crisis affecting children?
• How is World Vision responding to the Venezuela crisis?
• How is World Vision helping children affected by the Venezuela crisis?
• How can I help people affected by the Venezuela crisis?

Fast facts: Venezuela crisis

• Driven by ongoing turmoil, as of December 2024, over 7.8 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014.
• The majority of Venezuelan refugees and migrants — approximately 6.7 million — reside in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Colombia hosts the highest concentration of Venezuelan migrants — 2.8 million.
• An estimated 7.6  million people still residing in Venezuela required humanitarian assistance in 2024.
• The migration of children and adolescents through the dangerous Darién Gap in Panama has increased by 40% so far in 2024, according to the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

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Why is Venezuela in crisis right now?

Venezuela is facing a prolonged crisis caused by years of hyperinflation, rampant corruption, economic mismanagement, and heavy dependence on oil revenues. Once one of the wealthiest nations in Latin America, Venezuela’s economy collapsed after a sharp drop in global oil prices and a steep decline in domestic oil production. The government’s ineffective response to these challenges, along with its failure to provide essential social services, has exacerbated the crisis, leaving Venezuelans struggling with dire shortages of food, medicine, and other necessities.

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How many people have fled Venezuela?

As of December 2024, more than 7.8 million people have left Venezuela, making it one of the largest external displacement crises in the world.

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Where are Venezuelan migrants and refugees going?

Most Venezuelans have sought safety in neighboring countries. Of the millions of people who have left Venezuela, the majority have chosen to stay in Latin America and the Caribbean. Notably, Colombia has become the primary destination, hosting over 2.8 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela. Other significant destinations include:

• Peru: 1.7 million
• Brazil: 626,900
• United States: 545,200
• Chile (532,700)

A dangerous exodus

As the crisis unfolds, people are taking dangerous journeys to reach their intended destinations. These treks are frequently taken on foot, and some even attempt risky sea voyages to nearby Caribbean islands.

The lack of proper documentation makes refugees and migrants vulnerable to exploitation and victimization at the hands of smugglers and traffickers who take advantage of their desperate situation.

Jasmina and her family, including her children pictured above, embarked on a years-long journey from Venezuela in search of better living conditions. They traveled hundreds of miles through the roads of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, enduring nights of sleeping on the streets with no permanent home. Their struggles included crossing the Darién Gap, a dangerous jungle route.

“You just feel like you’re going to die; you just feel like you’re going to stay there. You can only pray and ask God to give you strength from where there is none because your legs are getting weaker, you feel like you can’t breathe, that you are going to faint, that you are going to stay there and nobody, absolutely nobody, is going to be able to help you, because you are in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a jungle,” remembers Jasmina. Despite the immense difficulties, they pressed on.

After four years of migrating from country to country, Jasmina made the difficult choice to return to Venezuela. She expressed heartfelt gratitude for World Vision’s support, which provided her family with the transportation they needed to return to their community. World Vision’s help eased their journey home and left a lasting impact on Jasmina, who was assured that her family was not alone during the most challenging times of their migration.

“… Without that help, the return would have been very difficult, we were already tired and without strength. With World Vision, the burden was significantly reduced,” she says.

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What’s the difference between a migrant, a refugee, and an asylum-seeker?

The Venezuela crisis has sparked a significant movement of people, the majority of whom are classified as migrants. A migrant is someone who moves from their usual place of residence, whether internally or internationally, regardless of their legal status or reasons for moving.

By contrast, a refugee is a person who flees their home country due to persecution, conflict, violence, or other circumstances that place them in need of international protection. Nearly 212,000 people who have left Venezuela are considered refugees, as they fled the country to escape violence.

Additionally, according to the UNHCR, as of mid-2023, nearly 1.2 million Venezuelans were asylum-seekers. An asylum-seeker is someone who applies for refugee status in another country and is awaiting a decision on their claim for protection.

Explore the world of refugees: Discover the facts and differences between asylum-seekers, migrants, and refugees.

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How is the Venezuela crisis affecting children?

Children and teens are among the most vulnerable in the Venezuela crisis. As families continue to move across borders, young people face serious risks like:

• Violence
• Malnutrition
• Forced recruitment by armed groups
• Dropping out of school

These threats endanger their safety, health, and future development.

Girls, children traveling alone, or those who are separated from their families face even greater threats. They are at high risk of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and abuse. Their mental health and psychosocial well-being are also threatened: reported cases of sexual violence have tripled, and suicide risk has increased over the last few years, according to UNICEF.

Another alarming trend has emerged: More children than ever are embarking on hazardous routes to reach their intended destinations. Over 30,000 children crossed the Darién Gap in the first four months of 2024, a 40% increase from the previous year. UNICEF reports that in 2024, 800,000 people, including 160,000 children and teens, were expected to cross the jungle as part of the ongoing migration crisis, requiring humanitarian assistance.

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How is World Vision responding to the Venezuela crisis?

Since 2019, World Vision has actively responded to the Venezuela crisis through our program “Hope Without Borders.” As of December 2024, we have supported 2.58 million people through programs focused on child protection, education, food security, access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and livelihoods in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

We’re also facilitating economic integration through employment support and training and mental health services for people impacted by the crisis. Collaboration with faith-based organizations is vital and enables us to offer safe spaces, skills training, and language classes. World Vision’s cash transfers and food aid have become an essential lifeline for thousands of people.

“For six years, we have been committed to walking alongside migrant children and host communities in the region, bringing hope beyond borders through our projects and programs,” says Peter Gape, director of World Vision’s multi-country response to the migration crisis, “Hope Without Borders.”

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How is World Vision helping children affected by the Venezuela crisis?

World Vision serves vulnerable children and teens across Latin America through our “Hope Without Borders” initiative In five countries affected by the Venezuela migration crisis — Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru — we offer safe spaces, education support, trauma care, and family reunification, all critical services for children on the move. Some key highlights from October to December 2024 include:

Safe spaces and stronger systems

In Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, we established Child-Friendly Spaces — safe, supportive environments where children can play, learn, and access psychosocial care services. We also strengthened local protection systems by training teachers and reinforcing child protection referral pathways.

Learning opportunities during crisis

In Chile, hundreds of migrant children have gained access to temporary classrooms and learning programs. After the forced eviction of a migrant camp, our teams responded swiftly with psychological support, recreational activities, and essential supplies for affected families.

Supporting through play

In Brazil, we supported children in processing their experiences through playful tools. Their responses showed positive feelings of protection and well-being in World Vision support spaces.

Assistance for families in transit

In Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, the online program, Routes of Hope, offers immediate assistance, case management support, and protection services to migrant families who face threats of violence and other safety concerns while traveling.

Youth leadership

In Ecuador, we supported youth-led networks in raising awareness and advocating for children’s needs, amplifying the voices of young migrants in their communities.

Resilience-building in Venezuela

We trained over 60 pastors and faith leaders in child protection and safeguarding, encouraging the development of protection protocols within churches. We also worked with local and national governments to strengthen child protection through participation in a cross-border forum.

In Colombia, we’re coming alongside children like Sofia and her mother, Mariangel, pictured above, to help build hope by taking care of their immediate needs and supporting their long-term aspirations for a better life.

We first met Sofia in 2019 when she was just 5 years old.

Sofia and her family arrived in Colombia in 2018, navigating perilous routes and settling in El Talento, a settlement for Colombian returnees and Venezuela migrants. Since 2020, World Vision has been providing crucial support to children like Sofia in El Talento.

Sofia thrived in the UNICEF and World Vision Learning Circles, an educational program aimed at helping students catch up in their studies. During one session, Sofia expressed her dream of a home. With building materials from World Vision and community support, Sofia’s family managed to build a house for the seven of them, including her parents and four siblings. From our partner organizations, the family also received food vouchers from the World Food Programme and money vouchers from the Ven Esperanza program, which they used for additional materials.

Despite losing their house in a landslide, Sofia and her family remain resilient. They now live in a rented two-room wooden house. Their determination and hope for a better future drive them forward.

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How can I help children and families affected by the Venezuela crisis?

You can support Venezuelans by remembering them in prayer and helping meet their needs.

• Pray: Join us in praying for all those affected by the crisis in Venezuela.
• Give to World Vision’s Disaster Relief Fund to address the needs of Venezuelans and other people facing crises.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers.—Hebrews 13:1–2 (NIV)

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Laura Reinhardt of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.

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Forced displacement reached a record 123.2 million people worldwide in 2024, driven by conflict, persecution, human rights violations, and instability, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The agency’s Global Trends report highlights the rise in displacement, with Sudan now facing the world’s largest displacement crisis due to escalating violence.

Other impacted countries include Venezuela, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Haiti — each facing complex emergencies that have uprooted millions of lives.

Below, explore the top six countries most affected by forced displacement and discover how World Vision is responding to support refugees and displaced families. All refugee figures are based on UNHCR data as of the end of 2024.

Venezuela — 6.2 million refugees and asylum seekers

Venezuela’s crisis has triggered one of the world’s largest displacement emergencies, with nearly 7.9 million people forced to flee since 2017 due to food shortages, lack of healthcare, and the search for safety and better opportunities. Most have remained in Latin America, including 2.8 million in Colombia, over 1 million in Peru, and hundreds of thousands more in Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador.

By the end of 2024, 370,200 Venezuelans were officially recognized refugees, and approximately 5.9 million others needed international protection — a 2% increase from the previous year.

World Vision is actively responding across the region, supporting children and families with nutritional aid, clean water, and access to essential health and education services in countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.

Within Venezuela, we partner with local organizations to help families build a better future for their children. As of December 2024, our regional efforts have reached more than 2.58 million people. Our programs prioritize child protection, education, food security, clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and livelihood support to help communities recover and thrive.

Syria — 6.1 million refugees and asylum seekers

Since 2011, the conflict in Syria has driven millions from their homes, with the majority seeking refuge in neighboring countries across the Middle East. Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, while others have sought safety in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.

The transition in government in late 2024 prompted more than 500,000 Syrians to return from other countries, according to UNHCR estimates as of mid-May 2025. An additional 1.2 million people displaced within Syria have also returned to their areas of origin. However, many returnees face ongoing challenges, including damaged infrastructure, limited resources, and continued insecurity.

In 2024, World Vision supported over 1.7 million people, prioritizing the well-being of children and families. After the devastating February 2023 earthquake, we launched more than 50 projects, including healthcare services, health and nutrition assistance, education programs, and psychological support sessions in schools, in partnership with local organizations. These critical efforts supported more than 1.8 million people.

Afghanistan — 5.8 million refugees

Afghanistan is home to one of the largest long-term refugee situations globally.

World Vision serves children and families in over 3,000 villages in the northwestern provinces of Badghis, Faryab, Ghor, and Herat. Through partnerships with local community leaders in Afghanistan, we’ve implemented programs to address crises and equip these impacted communities to create positive, sustainable change. In 2023, we reached over 2.8 million people with food and nutrition assistance, healthcare, child protection, and access to clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene support.

Ukraine — 5.1 million refugees

Since the conflict escalated in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been uprooted from their communities. By the end of 2024, an estimated 8.8 million people had been forcibly displaced — over 5 million as refugees in other countries, and at least 3.6 million still internally displaced within Ukraine. Impacted communities continue to face grave uncertainty, separation, and hardships as the war persists.

World Vision has been responding since the first week of the crisis. In immediate response, our staff in the region aided refugees who had crossed the Romanian border, offering essentials such as food, shelter, cash assistance, and protection against trafficking.

In our ongoing response, we’ve partnered with churches and organizations to support displaced families in Romania, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, along with their host communities. As of April 2024, our staff have supported over 1.8 million across the region with essential resources such as emergency food assistance, hygiene kits, child protection programs, and much more.

Our efforts in the region have expanded to focus on long-term support, including psychosocial assistance and educational programs tailored to the needs of affected children and families.

Sudan — 2.8 million refugees and asylum seekers

By the end of 2024, the conflict in Sudan had triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 14.3 million people forced from their homes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

As violence continues and displacement spreads across Sudan and neighboring countries, food insecurity has reached critical levels. Even before the current escalation, about one-third of Sudan’s population struggled with daily hunger.

One of the largest humanitarian aid organizations in the country, World Vision has supported children, families, and communities in Sudan from 1983 to 1988 and again since 2004. Since April 2023, our emergency assistance programs in Sudan and the region have supported over 3.2 million people, predominantly women and children, focusing on food security, child protection, health and nutrition, and sanitation and hygiene.

Myanmar – 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers

In Myanmar, ongoing armed violence and natural disasters, including monsoons and earthquakes, have led to widespread displacement, property damage, and heightened humanitarian needs. With 3.6 million people internally displaced, the situation continues to be complex and dire.

World Vision is actively responding to this humanitarian crisis in more than 40 townships, with plans to reach approximately 3 million people impacted by the turmoil.

For many years, but especially since 2017, people belonging to the Rohingya ethnic minority have fled Myanmar due to violence, persecution, and human rights violations, most of them crossing the border into neighboring Bangladesh. Since the beginning of the Rohingya crisis, World Vision has been delivering vital aid to children and families living in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, including food, access to clean water, sanitation facilities, shelter, and more.

How you can help refugees:

• Pray: Join us in praying for all who have fled unsafe environments — ­­especially children — and who struggle every day to survive as refugees.
• Give: Your gift to World Vision’s Refugee Children’s Crisis Fund will support refugee families with life-saving resources and other essentials.

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This World Refugee Day, we honor the resilience of people forcibly displaced from their home countries. From Sudan to Haiti to Bangladesh, millions of mothers and children are seeking safety in desperation. Their journeys reflect a global crisis: As of June 2024, an estimated 43.7 million people have been forced to flee across borders in search of safety. Each year, approximately 339,000 children are born as refugees, many into hunger and instability.

Their stories remind us why refugee support matters.

Sudanese refugee mother escapes conflict with twin sons

No mother willingly runs into danger with babies in her arms — not unless staying is even more terrifying.

That’s the choice 20-year-old Tahani faced due to the conflict in Sudan. As armed violence consumed her community, she fled with her twin sons, Adam and Adeeb, just around their first birthday. She carried one, and a relative carried the other.

“When I started coming here, I faced shooting and people killing people on the road,” she says. “Houses were on fire and villages.”

Tahani’s trek ended in Farchana, Chad. In May 2024, nearly a year after she arrived in Chad, World Vision staff met her at a nutrition and rehabilitation center run by the International Rescue Committee. Her sons were severely malnourished at 21 months old. Adam weighed only 13 pounds.

With care and therapeutic feeding, the twins began to recover at the center. Within a few months, their condition improved. After learning of the family’s plight, generous World Vision donors stepped in to help expand the clinic’s capacity by providing a water system and electricity. Today, the boys are healthier, active, and smiling in their mother’s embrace.

Hunger and hardship on the Haitian border

In the Dominican Republic, 28-year-old Rosemita also finds herself displaced and hungry — not by choice, but by circumstance. Uprooted by violence in Haiti, she now struggles each day to feed her five children.

On this day, the only food she has is a single bowl of soup, which she sets aside for her youngest. The others wait, hoping for something to eat. Her 10-year-old son suffers from constant hunger headaches. “It’s very hard when my head hurts from hunger; it happens to me all the time,” he says quietly.

Back in Haiti, the threat of violence and insecurity makes returning home unthinkable. Like many displaced Haitian families, Rosemita is caught in a painful limbo — without work, support, or a clear way forward.

Families like hers are at the heart of World Vision’s response. In Haiti and beyond, support from generous donors is helping deliver lifesaving assistance and essential support. Together, our global malnutrition programs are making a lasting difference.

Over the last 15 years, 88% of the severely malnourished children we treated made a full recovery.  

In Bangladesh, refugee moms grow food, restoring dignity

In Bangladesh, Momtaj’s story is different, but her need is the same. Rohingya refugee families — nearly a million people — have found shelter in camps across Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Here, food insecurity persists.

“I have no income to buy fresh vegetables,” says Momtaj, a 27-year-old mother of four on the remote island of Bhasan Char. “If I can cultivate, then I can feed my children.” On the mainland, Senowara, a 33-year-old mother of five, longs for the days when she could grow vegetables for her family. “After coming here, we live in a small place with not enough free open space, water [sources], natural fish, or our own cultivated vegetables,” she says.

Yet, even here, hope is taking root, literally. Refugee families are working with World Vision and partners to start home gardens and community aquaculture, growing fresh produce and fish. These projects not only nourish bodies but also help restore a sense of dignity, agency, and resilience.

“If we establish community gardens, we can work there, produce vegetables, and all family members can consume,” says community leader Mohammed Taher of the refugee camp area in Cox’s Bazar. “We can meet our nutritional needs, and excess vegetables can be provided to other community members.”

How World Vision helps refugees and displaced families

From Chad to Haiti to Bangladesh, mothers and children remind us that displacement is often a last resort — a desperate bid for safety and survival.

World Vision is supporting vulnerable families around the world, working to meet their urgent needs while also coming alongside them as they build pathways to restoration and resilience. We’re doing this through providing:

• Emergency food and nutrition
• Access to clean water and healthcare
• Safe spaces for children to play and learn
• Support for resilient livelihoods and long-term recovery

Every child deserves safety, every family deserves the chance to thrive, and no one should ever be forced to flee home just to survive.

Sams Arefin, a World Vision communication specialist in Bangladesh, contributed to this article.

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