Poverty is a social sickness that we can’t seem to cure. Even Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you” (Matthew 26:11, NIV). We wonder, if the poor will always be with us, what’s the point in addressing poverty at all?

Poverty is both as ancient as pharaohs and as modern as smartphones. No matter any shift in politics, economics, or philosophy, poverty remains. Its very persistence can lull us into complacency. We can easily choose inaction from a deep sense of helplessness.

But if we could do something to address the issue of injustice in the world, would we? And why would we?

Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, once said, “Don’t fail to do something just because you can’t do everything.” Many followers of Jesus have dedicated their lives to eradicating poverty. But for many of us, it can often be a little too easy to stay comfortable in our church communities — praying for the world’s needs but failing to follow prayer with action.

We may feel confident in our understanding of the gospel of Christ. We believe Jesus was born, lived, died, and was resurrected to reconcile us to God and bring us new life. While these truths are central to our faith, when we look to the teachings of Jesus, we may encounter a question: Does our response to poverty point to a missing component in our understanding of the gospel?

Rich Stearns, World Vision president emeritus, addresses this piercing question in his book, The Hole in Our Gospel. His premise is that if we claim to follow Jesus — the One who fed the hungry, healed the broken, and called the poor “blessed” — but ignore the suffering of His people, then we’re preaching an incomplete gospel.

But let us address the elephant in the room. There is no need to pack your bags for a guilt trip. Nor is there a reason to beat ourselves up. Rather, this is a call to arms — compassionate, Jesus-filled arms — that are ready to do the gritty, holy work of justice. It’s about waking up as the Church and doing good, hard, and healing work. Because poverty is not just a social issue — it’s a gospel issue.

The Church has the power to respond to extreme poverty. Even more, how our congregations respond to the call of the gospel can rewrite the course of history.

How does poverty happen?

People often misunderstand poverty. In his book, Stearns writes, “Each of us brings different associations to the word poverty based on our past understandings and misunderstandings.” It’s tempting to reduce poverty to a simple economic issue — a lack of money, food, housing, or access to clean water. And while these are real and urgent needs, they only scratch the surface. Poverty is not just about empty wallets or bare cupboards. It’s about something deeper: a rupture in how things were meant to be. Poverty is the hum of brokenness under the noise of the world.

Many people mistakenly assign fault as well, beyond confusing what poverty is. Some believe poverty is caused by laziness, irresponsibility, or a failure to work hard enough. Others believe it’s solved with a job, a budget, or a new policy. These assumptions are clean, simple — and erroneous. They ignore the complexities of trauma, war, injustice, displacement, generational loss, and spiritual trauma or confusion. They miss the fact that a person can work three jobs and still not afford to live. They treat poverty like a math equation, assuming it has a simple, one-step solution. But Stearns tells us:

“Poverty is extremely complex. Picture the poor caught in a spiderweb of interwoven causes that trap them hopelessly while the marauding spiders of hunger, war, disease, ignorance, injustice, natural disasters, and exploitation prey upon them unrestrained.”

What about extreme poverty?

Extreme poverty is the most severe form of poverty, involving the acute deprivation of basic human needs. The technical definition of extreme poverty is living on less than $3.00 per person per day. According to the latest data, about 8.5% of people globally are estimated to be living in extreme poverty. That’s nearly 700 million people.

How does the Church view poverty?

Poverty reflects the world’s brokenness. From a Christian perspective, it can be seen as an extended consequence of sin — reflecting broken relationships between humans and God, humans and one another, and humans and creation. When Adam and Eve turned from God, their relationships with Him, with one another, with the land, and even with themselves were torn. Poverty is the lingering aftershock of that tearing. It shows up in hunger and homelessness, yes — but also in loneliness, powerlessness, and hopelessness. It is not just the absence of material things; it is the absence of shalom — God’s wholeness, His peace, His intended design.

The good news is that God did not stay distant from this pain. Jesus entered it. He was born into poverty. Instead of being wrapped in royal silk, Christ was clothed in rags and lay on straw. He walked among the outcast, the beggar, the widow, the orphan. He told stories where the poor were heroes and the last were first. And He declared that in His kingdom, the poor in spirit — those who know their need — are blessed. Not pitied. Not blamed. But blessed.

The Church is called to see poverty through this lens. Not as something “other people” experience, but as something we are all touched by in one form or another. Material wealth does not mean spiritual wholeness. A person can be surrounded by abundance and still live in spiritual poverty. Conversely, a person in rags may possess a faith that could move mountains.

Defining poverty

So, what is poverty? Among the many complexities contributing to it, it is a crack in the foundation of creation. It is a distortion of God’s image, a symptom of the fall. Enter Jesus, who came not only to forgive sins but to also restore what was lost. To bind up the brokenhearted. To bring good news to the poor. To lift the lowly and invite them to the banquet in the kingdom of God, where there is more than enough for everyone.

To address poverty, then, one is not merely called to give, but to enter into relationship. To recognize Christ in the face of the hungry, the unhoused, the overlooked. To listen before we speak, to serve without superiority, to give without expecting return. It is to partner with God in the holy, hard, beautiful work of restoration.

Global hunger crisis

The global hunger crisis isn’t just a logistics problem; it’s a moral emergency. The Church, with its vast reach and even deeper calling, holds a powerful key to closing the door on extreme poverty. As St. Thomas Aquinas put it, “He who is dying of hunger must be fed rather than taught.” Before we offer sermons, we must offer sustenance. People don’t have mental space for spiritual conversations or practices when they’re in survival mode. A woman may not have time to go to church if she’s walking 6 kilometers each day to provide water for her family. A child may not feel comfortable going to Sunday school if they’re dirty from lacking clean water in which to bathe. But when we can meet physical needs — through food distributions, agricultural training, or other forms of support — we show Christ’s love and create space for spiritual needs to be met as well.

What does Scripture say about poverty?

The Bible talks about poverty and caring for the poor a lot. In fact, Scripture mentions the subject more than 2,000 times. From the thundering prophets of the Old Testament to the quiet wisdom of the book of James, God makes one thing painfully clear: We can’t claim to know Him if we ignore the people He is forever pursuing.

Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” James 1:27 keeps it uncomfortably simple: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”

We cannot forget Deuteronomy 15:11: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” God is not simply giving us a heads-up that poverty exists; He’s giving us a path forward, calling us to open our hands, our hearts, our homes.

Jesus, too, had many words on the matter. He fed the hungry, touched the untouchables, and made room at His table for the folks nobody else wanted to invite. In Luke 4:18, Jesus gives His personal mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

Notice that Jesus said good news. Not “okay news.” Not “news you can ignore.” Good news! And if our gospel isn’t good news for the poor, then maybe it’s not the gospel at all.

Stearns says, “Being a Christian, or follower of Jesus, requires much more than just having a conversion experience or affirming a statement of belief.” In other words, faith without action is incomplete. It’s faith that’s missing the point. If our gospel has a hole where justice, compassion, and action should be, then it’s time to get out the needle and thread and start patching up the missing pieces.

Further in The Hole in Our Gospel, Stearns says: “It is crystal clear from Scripture that God loves the poor while hating their poverty, the man-made actions that contribute to it, and the apathy of the ‘well-off’ who allow it to persist.”

Church solutions to end extreme poverty

An anonymous writer once crafted an imaginary conversation with a friend. “Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it,” he imagined saying to a friend. The friend responded, “Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

An honest look will reveal the Church has sometimes been like that one friend who says, “Let me know how I can help!” — and then disappears faster than snickerdoodles at the school bake sale. According to a 2001 study, Christians make up 33% of the world’s population, receive 53% of the world’s annual income, and spend 98% of their wealth on themselves. Only .01% of all Christian giving is directed toward mission efforts. While this study is over 20 years old, its findings are just as striking to us today.

If generosity is an indicator of our involvement, then this data suggests that the Church is taking a back seat in kingdom work. But when the Church does show up, the results are nothing short of miraculous.

For more than 75 years, World Vision has been witnessing this firsthand. Today, local churches around the globe have become centers of transformation through faith-driven partnerships. Not because they have big budgets, significant donations, or flashy programs, but because they understand that loving their neighbors means taking action, and doing more than offering thoughts and prayers.

Churches are uniquely positioned to help end extreme poverty because they are embedded in communities all over the world. The local body of Christ is rooted, trusted, and consistent. That kind of presence can’t be bought or manufactured. It’s cultivated through years of weddings, births, baptisms, graduations, funerals, prayer meetings, potlucks, neighborhood walks, and of course weekly Sunday gatherings.

In many parts of the world, the local church is the most stable and reliable institution around. Schools may close. Clinics may run out of medicine. Governments may overlook the needy. But the church doors stay open. That consistency makes churches powerful partners in long-term efforts to alleviate poverty.

World Vision’s model leans into this strength. We listen. We learn. And we walk alongside churches already doing the work, helping equip them with training, tools, and support to amplify their impact.

From tiny villages in Malawi to megachurches in California, congregations are taking on the giants of hunger, disease, lack of education, and hopelessness. Not because they have the answers, but because they are asking the question from those wristbands of another era: What would Jesus do?

Let’s not forget that spiritual poverty often walks hand-in-hand with physical need. Churches don’t just deliver aid — they help foster hope. They carry the message that each person is made in the image of God, loved beyond measure, and not forgotten.

Stearns wrote, “If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith has a hole in it.” But the good news is that the Church can be the holy patch that mends that tear. And the better news? The more we patch, the more we resemble Christ.

This is kingdom work, no doubt about it. It’s justice with hands and feet. It’s the Church waking up, standing tall, and proclaiming to a weary world: You are not alone. We see you. And we’re coming alongside with the reminder that Jesus is here.

 

The power of Church generosity

Local and global giving is essential in the effort to end extreme poverty. Churches can designate funds to support global partners, adopt struggling communities, or respond to emergencies and support long-term needs through trusted organizations like World Vision. But generosity doesn’t stop with collection baskets. It means organizing food drives, supporting local shelters, and remembering that “love thy neighbor” includes both the family next door and the child in another nation. Stearns wrote in The Hole in Our Gospel,

“This gospel—the whole gospel—means much more than the personal salvation of individuals. It means a social revolution.”

To revolutionize a broken world, we have to take Sunday morning sermons into the streets. We have to take the love we preach and put it on the road — into villages, towns, deserts, and urban centers. We must offer hope in every place where hope is gasping for breath.

Ending extreme poverty is possible.

When faced with such a persistent problem, it’s easy to feel powerless. But we must remember: it is possible to end extreme poverty — maybe even in our lifetime! Recent history provides the proof. The percentage of the world’s workers living in extreme poverty recently fell by half, from 14.3% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2019. Humanitarian organizations were even working toward the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened. In 2020, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty rose for the first time in two decades.

Rather than being disheartened, we can find motivation.

In just five years, together with partners and donors, World Vision has impacted the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children by tackling the root causes of poverty. This is compelling evidence that the mission is not only possible, but progress is happening right now.

Christian response to poverty

Extreme poverty isn’t just about money. It’s about powerlessness. It’s about being told you don’t matter. It’s about hearing “no” in every language — no food, no school, no doctor, no future.

But the Church knows a better Author. One who turns “no” into “yes” and “not yet” into “watch what I can do.”

The Church’s response to extreme poverty helps us all understand what it looks like to follow Jesus. It’s not reserved for missionaries in distant lands. It’s for every believer who’s ever uttered the prayer, “Lord, here am I. Send me.” And sometimes, the sending looks like writing a check. Sometimes it looks like sponsoring a child. And sometimes it looks like speaking up, advocating for needs to be met.

Jesus didn’t pass the poor on His way to somewhere more important. He stopped. He healed. He listened. He told stories that flipped the long-standing tables of power.

This is the model.

The Church’s response to extreme poverty must be steeped in both prayer and action. It must be as local as your own zip code and as global as God’s kingdom. It must challenge comfort and invite community. It may be inconvenient and unglamorous, but it’s always wildly beautiful.

Because here’s the thing about serving the poor: You’ll find Jesus there. In the tears. In the resilience. In the joy that makes no economic sense.

If you want to meet Christ, follow Him into the margins. If you want to be the Church, feed His sheep. Clothe His children. Defend His beloved. Not just in theory — but in sweat, in sacrifice, in solidarity.

Let’s fill the hole in our gospel. Let’s be a Church that doesn’t just believe, but becomes. Becomes the good news for those who’ve only known hard times.

Because when we respond to poverty with love, justice, and unshakable faith, we don’t just change the world, we reveal the kingdom of Jesus.

Specific ways to get involved

The work of alleviating poverty is both deeply spiritual and surprisingly practical. When churches commit to action, they ignite hope. And when that hope spreads, lives change. Here are some meaningful ways that churches can make a difference in the fight against poverty.

Emergency response

When disaster strikes, poverty digs in, and its roots in communities become that much deeper. But the church has the power to interrupt this cycle. By supporting emergency response programs, congregations extend Christ’s compassion in the most urgent moments, providing food, shelter, and safety that protect families from slipping further into hardship. When communities recover faster and stronger, children can return to school, parents can rebuild livelihoods, and hope rushes in where despair once threatened. In responding to crisis, the Church becomes a living answer to prayer — and a vital partner in breaking poverty’s grip on our world.

Partnering with a development organization like World Vision

World Vision offers congregations a variety of meaningful ways to come alongside children and families in need. One of the most personal and transformative ways is through child sponsorship. Through sponsorship church members are connected directly with a child, providing not just resources but relationships that transform lives — both there and here. But that’s only the beginning. Some churches choose to focus on hunger relief, others on education, clean water, or health initiatives. Still others prefer the broad impact of giving to the World Vision Fund, which strengthens every sector of the work and helps families lift themselves out of poverty for good. However a church chooses to partner, each gift becomes a living expression of faith — turning Sunday lessons into change in real communities, in real time.

Economic empowerment

Access to economic tools, training, and opportunities can have a huge impact on a family’s ability to provide for themselves not just today, but over time, through generations. Christians can support microfinance initiatives, vocational training programs, and savings groups that help families lift themselves out of poverty. Imagine believers helping a single mother in Rwanda start a bakery. Or enabling a farmer in Honduras to finally afford tools. This is more than what many would call charity. It’s a way of actually coming alongside people and working to equip them with the tools needed to write a different life story.

Advocacy

Advocacy may not sound as directly impactful as other solutions, but it is every bit as vital. Churches can raise their voices on behalf of those whose voices are being drowned out by injustice. That might mean hosting an advocacy Sunday, where members sign petitions or write to their elected officials about legislation that affects global poverty. It might mean educating the congregation on how policies affect access to food, healthcare, and education. When the Church speaks truth to power, it echoes the prophets of old — and makes a real difference today.

In fact, some of the greatest societal shifts in history have been sparked by a praying, persistent Church. Christians like William Wilberforce fueled the abolition of slavery, refusing to let injustice hide behind polite silence. The U.S. Civil Rights Movement moved to the rhythms of gospel hymns and sermons from pulpits that proclaimed freedom in Jesus and freedom on earth. More recently, World Vision’s work combating the HIV and AIDS crisis in Africa was driven by churches who said, “This is our issue, too.” When faith communities stood up — advocating for prevention, care, and compassion, change occurred.

Investing in education

Education has long been a cornerstone of the Church’s anti-poverty efforts. Christian schools have provided literacy and vocational skills to marginalized communities, opening pathways out of poverty. Today, Christian organizations continue to invest in schools, vocational training, and scholarships, recognizing education as a powerful tool for empowerment and self-sufficiency.

Famine conditions confirmed in North Darfur, Sudan. Help now:

The conflict in Sudan has resulted in one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. Since fighting began in April 2023, 14.3 million people have been forced to flee their communities, making this the largest displacement crisis globally. As armed violence continues, Sudan faces a severe hunger emergency and a deadly cholera outbreak, with children bearing the brunt of the suffering.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan are facing life-threatening food shortages. Famine conditions have been confirmed in a displacement camp in North Darfur that shelters an estimated 400,000 people.

 Sudan crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Sudan crisis
• What is the current situation in Sudan?
• Is Sudan at risk of widespread famine?
• What is the impact on women and girls?
• In what ways has the conflict in Sudan affected its people?
• How has the conflict impacted children in Sudan?
• How is the cholera outbreak affecting Sudan’s children and families?
• How many people has World Vision supported in the crisis in Sudan?
• Where has World Vision worked in Sudan, and for how long?
• How can I help children and families affected by the crisis in Sudan?

Fast facts: Sudan crisis

• Mass displacement: As of December 2024,  14.3 million people have fled their homes due to the widespread violence in Sudan.
• Acute food insecurity: Over half the population of Sudan (24.6 million people) faced crisis or worse levels of food insecurity between December 2024 and May.
• Extreme hunger: Parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp, south of El Fasher, are experiencing famine conditions.
• Risk of famine: The Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC) warns that other regions may face famine without swift humanitarian aid. Currently, at least 638,000 people are on the brink of famine.
• Health emergency: Disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, measles, and dengue fever, are rising due to disrupted health services.
• Education loss: With most schools closed or struggling to reopen, more than 90% of Sudan’s 19 million school-aged children have no access to formal education, jeopardizing their future.
• Humanitarian response: Since April 2023, World Vision has provided emergency assistance to more than 3.2 million people, primarily women and children, in Sudan and the region.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

What is the current situation in Sudan?

Since April 15, 2023, conflict has triggered the world’s worst displacement crisis and the largest hunger crisis, affecting Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad, reports the World Food Programme.

“With refugee families at the Sudan–Chad border, I witnessed some of the worst conditions for children’s survival that I have ever seen,” said Edgar Sandoval Sr., president and CEO of World Vision, who visited in May 2024. “The heat is unbearable at nearly 110 degrees. There is no water. There is no food. There is no shelter. You find all the things that you would want to run away from, and yet people are running toward them. So, you can only imagine the violence and the hunger that they’re running away from in Sudan. The suffering and desperation are at a massive scale, yet this is a crisis you hear almost nothing about. It deserves headlines. It deserves prime time. We know these children are equally precious to God. They deserve our attention. They deserve our help.”

BACK TO QUESTIONS

Is Sudan at risk of widespread famine?

Famine conditions have been confirmed in North Darfur’s Zamzam camp, south of El Fasher, where ongoing fighting has intensified.

Sudan’s protracted conflict, combined with climate shocks and below-average precipitation for the third season, has caused near-total harvest failures, worsening famine conditions.

The last famine was declared in East Africa in South Sudan in 2017, and before that, in Somalia in 2011. In both situations, hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, and children suffered long-term impacts from malnutrition and loss of agricultural outputs.

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What is the impact on women and girls?

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the crisis. Millions of women and girls in Sudan are at risk of various forms of violence, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse — with displaced, refugee, and migrant women and girls facing heightened danger. 

Widespread shortages of food and essential resources leave women struggling to provide for their families. Reports of violence are rising, and girls face increased risks of child marriage, hazardous work, and exploitation.

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In what ways has the conflict in Sudan affected its people?

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has had devastating effects on its people, with the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting that 1 in 2 people in Sudan require humanitarian aid. Millions of people have been displaced and face immense uncertainty. Even before the conflict, many people faced hunger daily as a result of climate shocks, rising food prices, and political unrest.

The ongoing conflict has intensified pre-existing challenges, including:

• Acute shortages of food, water, medicines, and fuel, with prices of essential items and transportation sharply increasing.
• Limited or no access to healthcare services. Armed hostilities have affected a majority of health facilities in conflict zones, rendering them non-operational, and the remaining facilities are stretched beyond capacity.
• Forced displacement in various states, including Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur, and South Darfur. Many from these areas have fled to the neighboring countries of the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.
• Sexual violence, which has been reported with increasing frequency. Protection of children and women is an urgent priority.
• Fear and insecurity. Armed combatants have been occupying homes and reportedly some hospitals and schools, attacking water and electrical infrastructure.

“This is confirmation of our worst fears coming to fruition — that thousands of people, including vulnerable children, will die from starvation,” said Sandoval Sr. “My prayer is that this will be a wake-up call for the world to pay attention to what’s happening in Sudan and mobilize resources to help. We are calling for unhindered, consistent access for humanitarian workers to get aid to the people who most need it. We must act now.”

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How has the conflict impacted children in Sudan?

Children are shouldering the heaviest burden of this devastating crisis, facing violence and hunger that threaten their lives and future opportunities. More children are displaced in Sudan than anywhere else in the world.

World Vision is deeply concerned about the profound long-term effects of hunger and food insecurity on the physical and cognitive development of Sudan’s children.

This multifaceted crisis also heightens protection concerns, especially for girls who are increasingly at risk of sexual exploitation, abuse, hazardous work, and child marriage. The ongoing violence has placed children at risk, forcing them and their families to flee from conflict and creating uncertainty about their future.

“When I get back home, I may not find anything to eat. This is frustrating me. I pray that the conflict ends soon so that we can live in peace and get back to school. I have dreams of becoming a doctor someday. We ask aid agencies to support us,” said 15-year-old Amani, who has been displaced due to ongoing hostilities.

The hunger crisis and ongoing conflict have also exacerbated one of the world’s worst education crises, where more than 90% of Sudan’s 19 million school-age children lack access to formal education. This disruption isn’t just a short-term problem; it poses long-term risks, potentially leading to a generational crisis. And tragically, many children may not make it to school age.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How is the cholera outbreak affecting Sudan’s children and families?

Millions of Sudanese children are at grave risk due to a deadly and rapidly spreading cholera outbreak. Since January 2025, more than 700 people have died — including children — and over 32,000 suspected cases have been reported. The disease now affects 17 of Sudan’s 18 states, compounding the suffering of families already devastated by conflict, hunger, forced displacement, and a collapsing healthcare system.

Among the most vulnerable are the 3.2 million malnourished children under 5. With weakened immune systems, these children face a significantly higher risk of dying from cholera and other preventable waterborne diseases. The rainy season has accelerated the spread, especially in overcrowded sites hosting internally displaced people and refugees.

“This is not just a public health crisis — it is a crisis of childhood, of dignity, and of survival,” said Simon Mane, World Vision’s national director in Sudan. “Children are dying from preventable diseases because we lack adequate resources to respond.”

World Vision is responding with access to lifesaving water, sanitation, and health (WASH) services, despite limited resources. In the hardest-hit states of Blue Nile, Red Sea, East Darfur, South Kordofan, and South Darfur, World Vision has delivered cholera treatment kits to nearly 9,000 people and provided emergency WASH services to over 25,000.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How many people has World Vision supported in the crisis in Sudan?

World Vision has reached more than 3.2 million people in Sudan and in the region since the start of our response in 2023, most of them women and children — delivering lifesaving aid including food, access to clean water, child protection support, health and nutrition programs, sanitation and hygiene solutions, and more.

Among the lives touched by our support are twin boys Adam and Adeeb (pictured above at 21 months in May 2024) whose story shows both the challenges and hope within the crisis. Their mother, Tahani, undertook a courageous journey from her community in Sudan to the border of Chad, walking all the way to Farchana with one of the twins in her arms while a relative carried the other. “I faced shooting and people killing people on the road when I started coming,” Tahani said. “Houses and villages were on fire.”

When our staff met the twins in May 2024, they were severely malnourished. Adam weighed only 13 pounds.

While they endured unimaginable violence and displacement, they are now finding strength through critical support — including nutrient-rich food — they’re accessing through a health center, which World Vision is helping to expand. Improvements, including new water systems and electricity, have strengthened the center’s ability to care for and treat malnutrition cases. The twins, pictured below in September 2024, are no longer in a critical state of malnutrition. Adam and Adeeb are being monitored during their recovery by World Vision staff.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

Where has World Vision worked in Sudan, and for how long?

One of the largest humanitarian aid organizations in Sudan, we are headquartered in Khartoum. Our local staff work with volunteers and partners primarily in four states: South Darfur, Blue Nile, East Darfur, and South Kordofan. We’ve served children and families in Sudan from 1983 to 1988 and from 2004 onwards, initially responding in Darfur.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

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

• Pray: Join us in praying for all those affected by the conflict in Sudan.

Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up the people of Sudan in their time of need. We pray for the safety of children, families, and World Vision staff, asking for Your protection and guidance as they navigate these dangerous times. Lord, we lift up those suffering from the hunger crisis, and we pray for provision and nourishment during this time of scarcity. We ask for Your special protection over women and girls who are particularly vulnerable to violence. Shield them from harm and give them strength and courage.

Lord, we plead for an end to the fighting and ask that Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, take the place of conflict. In Your mercy and grace we trust and hope. Amen.

• Give: Your gift today will help deliver essential care to children and families made vulnerable by the crisis in Sudan.

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Inside the crisis in Sudan

For a deeper dive into the humanitarian and displacement crisis in war-ravaged Sudan, join Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and top experts as they examine Sudan’s hunger crisis, the underlying conflict, and the international community’s response. Learn more in this detailed analysis, sponsored by World Vision. 

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.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

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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