World Vision is partnering with Sight & Sound as their production NOAH makes its way from the stage to movie theaters nationwide this September for one week only. The story follows Noah as he responds to God’s call to build an ark large enough to protect his family and preserve creation in the face of an approaching flood.

With sweeping sets, live animals, and powerful performances, the production captures what it means to trust God’s promises when the world feels uncertain. Filmed before a full live audience, the event allows viewers to experience the magnitude and emotion of the show on the big screen.

We spoke with Katie Miller, Sight & Sound’s director of brand development, about what makes this production unique and why the partnership with World Vision matters.

Can you tell us about Sight & Sound’s production of NOAH?

Sight & Sound is known for bringing the Bible to life on stage in a really big, spectacular way. So all of our shows have live animals that run up and down the aisles, a cast of 50 people, set pieces that soar 30 feet tall. And our heart and our hope is that people are transported back in time into the heart of the story as it unfolds all around them.

Noah specifically first premiered on stage here 30 years ago. So we’re having a special 30th anniversary season, and it is an incredibly powerful story about God’s faithfulness and promises. As Noah was faithful to the Lord, the Lord was so faithful back to Noah and his family too. It’s a wonderful show for families.

What’s something unique or unexpected about this production that you’re especially proud of?

All of our shows have live animals, but one of the things that makes Noah particularly special is we have over 100 of them on stage. The animals run up and down the aisles. They run across the stage.

One of my favorite scenes is the loading of the ark, where we have dozens of animals running down the aisles and up onto the stage, into the ark.

Then at the start of act two, when the curtain goes up, you’re really sitting inside the ark with over 100 live animals and animatronic animals that create this wildly impactful experience.

What do you hope people walk away with after watching NOAH?

One of the things that’s really easy for us to forget is that God gave Noah the charge to build the ark, but it didn’t actually start raining for nearly 100 years. So much of Noah’s ministry during that time was really this — every single day, putting one foot in front of the other — faithfulness to what God had called him to do, and then to watch that turn into God’s faithfulness back to him.

This show is such a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness in our own lives. And just as he was faithful to Noah, he’s faithful to us too.

Sight & Sound and World Vision are both Christian organizations passionate about storytelling and transformation. Why are you excited to partner with World Vision, and what drew your team to this partnership?

We often say that we live in a very hope-hungry world. And we are always thrilled to partner with others who make up the body of Christ to bring hope to a world that is so in need. Even though our two ministries are very different in the output that we do, there is just a beauty in the different facets of the body of Christ and the way that we all work together to bring the Bible, bring the Gospel to life in tangible ways, in very different ways. That was one of the things that makes us the most excited about this partnership.

How do you see this partnership making a difference for children and families around the world?

One of the things that we appreciate so much about World Vision is the coming together of the tangible help with the spiritual help as well. Our passion is to equip the church by giving them tools and opportunities to continue to grow in Christ. And so, the opportunity to do that together with World Vision is really exciting and something that we’re really grateful for in this season.

What would you say to viewers who are inspired by NOAH and want to take action through World Vision?

Sight & Sound and World Vision are both ministries that are bringing the gospel to life, but it’s something we all can do, even on an individual level. There’s opportunities to partner with World Vision, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a way that you can contribute, in a way that you can be a part of.

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.

The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in late 2019, and its associated disease, COVID-19, left an indelible mark on the world. Beyond its immediate health implications, the pandemic has threatened progress in reducing global poverty and income inequalities. Of particular concern is the long-term impact on children in areas such as education, mental health, and protection from exploitation. These challenges have further hindered progress toward achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

COVID-19 pandemic: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Coronavirus and COVID-19
• What do I need to know about the coronavirus and COVID-19?
• Is the coronavirus worse than the flu?
• World Vision’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.?
• World Vision’s response to the coronavirus pandemic worldwide?
• How many people has World Vision supported during the pandemic?
• What has been the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children?
• How has the pandemic affected sponsored children?
• How can I help people made more vulnerable by emergencies like the pandemic?
• Resources to learn more about COVID-19
• 2025 update on COVID-19 and timeline

Fast facts: Coronavirus and COVID-19

• Global statistics: As of January 2025, over 777 million COVID-19 cases and 7 million deaths have been recorded worldwide since December 2019.
• U.S. statistics: While data was collected from January 2020 to March 2023, the United States led globally with nearly 104 million reported cumulative cases and more than 1.1 million recorded deaths.
• The virus and its variants: SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, was identified on December 31, 2019. Variants such as Omicron continue to evolve, with some being more transmissible than earlier strains.
• Child poverty: In just two years, an estimated 100 million more children have fallen into poverty, a 10% increase since 2019. Today, an estimated 356 million children live in extreme poverty.
• Child marriage risks: Up to 10 million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides due to the pandemic.
• Education disruption: Over 1.6 billion children worldwide experienced school closures at some time during the pandemic, leading to significant learning losses.

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What do I need to know about the coronavirus and COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named for crownlike spikes on their surfaces. COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which spreads through respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes, or speech.

COVID-19 symptoms: Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chills and shaking, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or a loss of sense of taste or smell. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Variants: New variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will continue to evolve as they spread and replicate. Some disappear. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks and continues to monitor variants.

Learn more from the CDC’s latest update on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

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Is the coronavirus worse than the flu?

COVID-19 is more infectious and severe than the flu, with a higher mortality rate and limited preexisting immunity. While both are contagious respiratory illnesses, the novel coronavirus causes more widespread and prolonged disruptions to health and society, according to the CDC.

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World Vision’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.?

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, World Vision acted quickly to support vulnerable families across the U.S. by distributing Family Emergency Kits in key locations, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Seattle. Each kit included essential supplies — nutritious food for a family of five for a week, along with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, first-aid antiseptic, paper products, and children’s games and school supplies — helping families during this challenging time.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, we distributed 87,600 Family Emergency Kits, serving more than 328,700 children and adults through our church partners as of February 1, 2024. In partnership with the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program, we also distributed more than 3.6 million Fresh Food Boxes to nearly 14.3 million people across the U.S. through a network of over 1,300 churches between May 2020 and May 2021.

World Vision also supplied more than 3 million items of personal protective equipment to healthcare systems, first responders, and schools across the U.S., including a distribution to the Navajo Nation.

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World Vision’s response to the coronavirus pandemic worldwide?

World Vision prioritized our COVID-19 response in every country where we work. Our global response focused on four main objectives, with programs that were adapted based on context and local need:

• Scaling up preventive measures to slow the spread
• Strengthening healthcare systems and workers
• Supporting children impacted by the effects of the pandemic
• Collaborating and advocating with partners to ensure that vulnerable children got the care they need

We served vulnerable populations in countries where the health systems and monitoring were weak; where people have been suffering from diseases common among impoverished populations, such as malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV and AIDS, and Ebola; or where severe malnutrition compromised immune systems.

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How many people has World Vision supported during the pandemic?

World Vision has supported more than 99 million people globally to stay safe during the pandemic with supplies and information about protecting themselves from COVID-19, including handwashing, social distancing, mask usage, hygiene practices, and vaccines. As of September 2022, marking the end of our program’s reporting, here are response highlights:

• Partnered with more than 207,614 faith leaders to ensure vulnerable families have information on COVID-19 prevention and care and vaccines.
• Distributed more than 12.8 million supplies, including handwashing materials, hygiene kits, and cleaning kits, to keep communities safe.
• Established or maintained nearly 297,000 facilities, like community handwashing stations, school toilets, household latrines with handwashing facilities, clean drinking water systems, and community drainage systems, to limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Reached more than 54 million people with health interventions, including preventative behavior and vaccine messaging, safe quarantine and/or isolation spaces, and transportation support and services.
• Trained 291,430 community health workers in COVID-19 prevention measures, including vaccines.
• Aided more than 5.2 million people with educational materials, support, or training so children could keep learning during pandemic-related school closures.
• Helped more than 13 million people in 64 countries with cash and vouchers or food assistance.
• Supported over 1.9 million children with child protection activities.
• Assisted more than 5 million people with psychosocial support or age-specific health information, education, and communication materials.
• Equipped people and communities to recover and thrive during COVID-19 through VisionFund’s microfinancing, recovery loans, and savings groups.

Vaccines play a critical role for the most vulnerable 

In 2022, World Vision reached more than 10.5 million people, including 4.2 million children, with support for vaccine programs and interventions to reduce the pandemic’s indirect impacts on the most vulnerable people.

Globally and through our local staff, World Vision has extensive experience confronting pandemics, supporting vaccination programs, and improving child health. We worked alongside our partners to implement immunization campaigns and ensure communities understood the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination. The availability of COVID-19 vaccines for vulnerable people globally will continue to enormously benefit the hundreds of millions of children whom the pandemic has negatively impacted by giving them a lifeline to return to their childhoods. Vaccines are a game changer for children, as they allow kids to resume school and families to recover their livelihoods.

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What has been the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children?

The pandemic has had profound and lasting effects on children worldwide, impacting their health, education, and overall well-being. For many children in developing countries, the effects of the pandemic have also increased poverty, hunger, and the risk of child marriage, child labor, gender-based violence, and exploitation.

• An estimated 5.2 million children worldwide have lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to COVID-19.
• In 2021, experts estimated that an additional 8.9 million children will have engaged in child labor by the end of 2022 due to rising poverty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Following abrupt drops in household incomes; disruptions to the supply of affordable, nutritious foods; and interruptions to health, nutrition, and social protection services, up to 15% more children suffered from wasting in 2020 compared with projections for 2020 without COVID-19.

The pandemic also ushered in new challenges for children’s mental health or intensified pre-existing mental health issues.

World Vision, in partnership with War Child, examined the impact of COVID-19 on the mental and psychosocial well-being of children living in conflict-affected countries, including Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Lebanon, and South Sudan. According to the 2021 study, the number of refugee children who said they needed mental health support had more than tripled because of COVID-19.

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How has the pandemic affected sponsored children?

World Vision worked diligently to help protect children from the indirect effects of the COVID-19 disease, like hunger and extreme poverty. Through our child sponsorship programs, we:

1. 1. Assessed local situations and responded in the most appropriate ways
   2. Trained staff, community volunteers, and partners on the prevention of COVID-19 and access of care and treatment
   3. Worked with local health authorities and community organizations to spread accurate information about COVID-19, including the importance of vaccination when available, to families and communities

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How can I help people made more vulnerable by emergencies like the pandemic?

You can help bring hope to people who have been made more vulnerable by crises like the pandemic.

• Pray: Join us in praying for all those affected by this pandemic and its lasting impacts.
• Give: Your gift can help deliver hope and meet practical needs of  children and their families during emergencies.

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Resources to learn more about COVID-19

• U.S. COVID-19 data: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides detailed case trends, hospitalizations, and variant tracking.
• Global COVID-19 insights: The World Health Organization (WHO) offers international data on COVID-19 transmission and variant tracking.
• Comprehensive COVID-19 graphs: Our World in Data presents in-depth visual trends on cases, deaths, and vaccinations worldwide.

2025 update on COVID-19 and timeline

December 2019

• December 31: In Wuhan, China, reports surface of people with pneumonia due to an unknown cause. Between December 31 and January 3, national authorities in China report 44 cases to the World Health Organization (WHO).

January 2020

• January 9: The first confirmed death from the outbreak occurs.
• January 11: The National Health Commission in China informs the WHO that the outbreak is linked to exposure to the seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities identify a novel (new) coronavirus.
• January 12: Chinese health officials share the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus for countries to use in developing specific diagnostic kits.
• January 21: The WHO confirms 314 cases of the new coronavirus, 309 of which are in China. Other countries reporting cases include Thailand, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The CDC confirms the first case in the United States — a person in Washington state who returned from Wuhan on January 15. The death toll rises to six. Many people affected have underlying health issues, according to Reuters.
• January 24: Reported cases around the world increase to 846, with 830 in China. Singapore and Viet Nam report their first cases, and a second case is identified in the U.S. — a person who lives in Illinois and recently visited Wuhan. The death toll increases to 25.
• January 25: The WHO confirms 1,320 cases globally. Australia, Nepal, and France report their first cases. A third U.S. case is identified in Orange County, California — a person who had recently traveled to Wuhan. Forty-one people have died so far, all in China.
• January 28: Global cases jump to 4,593, with 4,537 in China. The death toll increases to 106, and three more countries — Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Germany — report cases.
  • An airliner with about 210 U.S. citizens, mostly consulate personnel and their families, leave Wuhan for the United States. CDC officials recommend avoiding all travel to China and expand airport health screenings to 20 U.S. locations.
  • Scientists in Australia become the first to recreate the new coronavirus outside of China.
• January 30: The global case total jumps to 7,818, with China accounting for 7,736. Outside of China, 82 cases have been identified in 18 different countries. The WHO reports cases in Malaysia, the Philippines, India, and Finland. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte confirms Italy has its first two cases during a press conference.
  • The CDC confirms the first human-to-human transmission in the United States.
  • U.S. President Donald J. Trump announces the formation of a coronavirus task force to lead America’s response to the outbreak.
  • The WHO emergency committee makes a nearly unanimous decision to declare a public health emergency of international concern.

February 2020

• February 11: The WHO names the illness COVID-19, based on its origin in 2019 and the coronavirus that causes it.
• February 14: A Chinese tourist who tested positive for COVID-19 dies in France, becoming the first person to die from the epidemic in Europe. The same day, Egyptian officials announce the country’s first case of COVID-19, according to a joint statement by Egypt’s Ministry of Health and the WHO. This is the first confirmed case in Africa.

March 2020

• March 11: The WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
• March 12: The global case total passes 128,000 people, with the death toll now at over 4,700 people.
  • Travel bans cascade around the globe.
  • Wall Street suffers its worst day since 1987 as virus fears spread.
  • Events across the U.S. are canceled or postponed. Many universities and schools temporarily close or announce a move to online learning. Professional and collegiate sports seasons are also affected, including the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and the NCAA, which cancels the annual March Madness basketball tournament.
• March 16: Coronavirus vaccine testing begins in the U.S. Even if the research goes well, a vaccine wouldn’t be available for widespread use for 12 to 18 months, says Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
• March 17: Coronavirus cases have now been identified in all 50 U.S. states.
• March 26: The overall number of cases passes 550,000 worldwide, with more than 175 countries reportedly affected. The U.S. now leads the world in the number of confirmed cases.

April 2020

• April 2: Cases worldwide top 1 million. More than 200,000 people in the U.S. have been infected.
• April 11: Cases in the U.S. surpass 500,000.
• April 27: Cases worldwide reach 3 million, with 185 countries now affected by the pandemic.

May 2020

• May 9: Cases worldwide top 4 million.

July 2020

• July 8: Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 11.8 million. Cases in the U.S. surpass 3 million.
• July 14: The CDC recommends Americans wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• July 22: Global cases exceed 15 million.
• July 27: Phase III clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Moderna, begin in the United States.

August 2020

• August 1: Mexico’s COVID-19 death toll becomes the third highest in the world. Mississippi records the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the nation.
• August 6: Africa’s cases surpass 1 million, with South Africa accounting for more than half.
• August 10: Moderna and U.S. federal officials reach a deal to supply the United States with 100 million doses of Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
• August 13: The WHO reports that the COVID-19 pandemic is costing the global economy over $375 billion per month, citing International Monetary Fund research.

September 2020

• September 29: Global deaths surpass 1 million. Deaths from coronavirus-related illnesses have doubled in just three months, led by fatalities in the U.S., Brazil, and India. The NFL reports its first COVID-19 outbreak.
• September 30: The WHO announces nearly $1 billion to fight COVID-19 and to make sure poor countries receive treatments and vaccines against the disease.

October 2020

• October 1: U.S. President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19.
• October 8: The White House COVID-19 outbreak reaches at least 34 people.
• October 28: The U.S. announces it will provide no-cost access to the COVID-19 vaccine, once available, for all Americans.
• October 29: WHO officials announce that Europe is again the epicenter of the pandemic.
• October 30: Cases in the U.S. surpass 9 million.

November 2020

• November 4: The United States passes 100,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time.
• November 17: New unemployment claims in the U.S. fall below 1 million for the first time since March.

December 2020

• December 11: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues the first emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine to Pfizer-BioNTech.
• December 14: The death toll in the United States surpasses 300,000. COVID-19 moves ahead of heart disease as the leading cause of death in the nation.
• December 18: The FDA authorizes Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the U.S. 
• December 20: Several European countries impose travel restrictions after new coronavirus variants are identified there. The new variants begin to emerge in the U.S., with the first case reported in late December.
• December 21: The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved by the European Union.

January 2021

• January 14: A WHO team of scientists arrive in Wuhan, as China ramps up efforts to contain a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in China’s northeast.
• January 19: The U.S. surpasses 400,000 coronavirus–related deaths.

February 2021

• February 22: The U.S. passes 500,000 coronavirus–related deaths.
• February 26: The United States administers 70.5 million COVID-19 vaccines.
• February 27: The FDA authorizes the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use in the U.S.

March 2021

• March 11: Brazil’s intensive care units surpass 90% capacity in 15 capitals as the pandemic flares up. Researchers in Brazil identify two cases of simultaneous infection with two different coronavirus variants.
• March 17: The European Union unveils its plans for vaccine passports, while the United Kingdom considers a vaccine passport option for summer travel.

April 2021

• April 23: The FDA announces its first full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech.

May 2021

• May 7: India is experiencing a deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections. The world’s second-most populous country records 414,188 new cases in one day — a record high.
• May 10: The FDA approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination for children as young as 12.
• May 12: The Red Cross warns that cases are exploding across Asia, with more than 5.9 million new confirmed infections in the past two weeks. India’s death toll surpasses 250,000.
• May 13: The CDC announces that fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors or follow physical distancing guidelines. Guidelines will still apply for travel and public transit.

June 2021

• June 10: Over 172 million people in the U.S. have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC. More than 873 million people worldwide have received at least one dose, according to the WHO.
• June 19: Brazil reports a total of more than 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, the world’s second-highest confirmed death toll.

July 2021

• July 15: Coronavirus–related deaths rise sharply in Africa, where countries face shortages in oxygen and intensive care beds. The number of deaths rise more than 40% this week, reaching 6,273 — nearly 1,900 more than the week before.
• July 17: The first case of COVID-19 is detected in Tokyo’s Olympic village.
• July 29: President Joe Biden calls on school districts to host pop-up clinics in order to vaccinate more children 12 and older against COVID-19 as worries intensify that the upcoming school year will be interrupted by the delta variant. The CDC describes the delta variant as being as transmissible as chickenpox.

August 2021

• August 2: The United States reaches a 70% vaccination rate.
• August 5: California becomes the first U.S. state to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all health workers.
• August 23: The FDA grants full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

September 2021

• September 22: The FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for Americans over 65 or who are at risk of severe COVID-19 complications.

October 2021

• October 20: The FDA recommends a Moderna booster for people 65 and older and the immunocompromised.
• October 29: The FDA approves the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children ages 5 to 11.

November 2021

• November 1: The global death toll surpasses 5 million.
• November 2: The CDC recommends pediatric COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 to 11.
• November 19: The FDA authorizes booster shots of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for everyone 18 and older.
• November 26: WHO officials classify omicron as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern.

December 2021

• December 27: The CDC shortens the recommended COVID-19 isolation period to five days.

January 2022

• January 3: The FDA authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster shots for children 12 to 15.
• January 5: The United States joins Brazil, Hungary, Israel, Italy, and the Philippines in reporting cases of “flurona,” or COVID-19 and Influenza coinfection.

February 2022

• February 15: The Pan-American Health Organization delivers 100 million vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean via COVAX.
• February 18: The U.S. announces increased vaccine assistance to 11 African countries through its new Initiative for Global Vaccine Access.

March 2022

• March 20: The CDC reports a surge in U.S. hospitalizations of young children with COVID-19 during omicron wave.
• March 24: The WHO identifies the omicron BA.2 “stealth variant” as the dominant strain of omicron worldwide, making up a majority of cases.

April 2022

• April 13: The CDC extends mask requirements, set to expire April 18, to allow more time to study omicron subvariants circulating in the U.S.
• April 18: A federal judge in Florida voids the federal government’s nationwide mask order for public transit, commercial flights, and transportation hubs such as airports and train stations.

July 2022

• July 13: Novavax approved in the U.S. for use in people who haven’t yet been vaccinated.
• July 21: President Biden tests positive for COVID-19 and experiences mild symptoms.

September 2022

• September 14: The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says, “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic,” but warned that if the world doesn’t take the opportunity now, there’s still a risk of more variants, deaths, disruption, and uncertainty.

2023

• January 25: The government of North Korea imposes a five-day lockdown on Pyongyang, its capital city, after a spike in respiratory illness..
• January 30: President Biden informs Congress that his administration will not seek a renewal of the public health emergency for COVID-19 after it expires on May 11, 2023.
• May 5: WHO officials announce the end of the emergency phase of COVID-19.
• July 6: China reports a rise in COVID-19 deaths in June following the lift of most containment regulations.
• July 31: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services establishes the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead the national response to Long COVID and help coordinate the launch of Long COVID-related clinical trials.

2025:

• February 2025: Health experts have reported a smaller wave of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. compared to past winters. This trend is attributed to high immunity levels from earlier infections and vaccinations and fewer new variants leading to diminished transmission.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

Sevil Omer, Heather Klinger, and Kristy J. O’Hara-Glaspie of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a complex and prolonged crisis, with over 15 million children suffering the impacts of armed conflict, hunger, and disease outbreaks. The humanitarian situation is deteriorating as a recent surge of violence, including the seizure of parts of Goma by a non-state armed group, has placed tens of thousands of people at risk of physical harm and forced displacement. Adding to these challenges, a new Ebola outbreak was declared in Kasai Province in September 2025, the country’s 16th epidemic, underscoring the urgent health threats children and families face.

DRC conflict: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

Explore facts and FAQs about the crisis in the DRC, and learn how you can help.

• Fast facts: DRC situation and conflict
• What is currently happening in the DRC?
• How are conditions in the DRC affecting children?
• What are some of the greatest needs of people in the DRC?
• What is World Vision doing to help vulnerable people in the DRC?
• How can I help affected children and families in the DRC?

Fast facts: DRC situation and conflict

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which spans an area comparable to Western Europe, is the second-largest country on the African continent and sits on the equator.
• The DRC shares its borders with nine neighboring countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
• The DRC is one of the five poorest nations in the world, despite its abundance of natural resources.
• Since gaining independence in 1960, the DRC has experienced persistent hostilities.
• In 2022, a surge in violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu exacerbated insecurity in the DRC, causing extensive internal displacement and substantial loss of life.
• More than 27 million people need humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.
• According to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 7 million people have been displaced within the DRC due to conflict as of December 2022. Over 1 million have crossed borders seeking asylum.
• In 2025 alone, an estimated 400,000 people have fled armed conflict in eastern DRC. By late January, the escalation of hostilities, including the seizure of parts of Goma by a non-state armed group, intensified the levels of violence, displacement, and food insecurity in the region.

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What is currently happening in the DRC?

The DRC, a country of over 113 million people in Central Africa, is facing one of the world’s most severe and complex humanitarian crises. In the eastern city of Goma and nearby camps, tens of thousands of people are at imminent risk of harm and displacement due to a surge in violent conflict.

Reports indicate that a non-state armed group has claimed control over parts of Goma, a city that borders Rwanda and serves as a humanitarian hub for the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. This armed offensive has cut off Goma from the rest of the DRC, shuttered key supply lines, and forced the evacuation of humanitarian workers. As violence escalates, fears of mass casualties and worsening conditions are mounting.

“The emotional toll on children cannot be ignored,” said Patrick Saah, World Vision’s director of programs in DRC. “We are seeing an entire generation of Congolese children being destroyed by war, violence and displacement.” 

Humanitarian impact

An estimated 400,000 people have fled violence in eastern DRC in 2025 alone, with many pouring into Goma or makeshift displacement camps in the region. This adds to the estimated 7 million people already displaced across the DRC due to ongoing conflict, primarily in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces. These areas have been mired in violent clashes between government forces and non-state armed groups since March 2022.

“The situation is terrible. There are not only thousands of people caught in the middle or fleeing this violent conflict but now we can’t reach the tens of thousands of people who were previously relying on us for food and other vital support,” said David Munkley, World Vision’s head of operations for eastern DRC. “Key roads surrounding Goma are blocked, and the city’s airport can no longer be used for evacuation and humanitarian efforts. Power and water have reportedly been cut to many areas of the city.”

In addition to conflict, eastern DRC faces compounding crises:

• Flooding in South Kivu in May 2023 destroyed over 3,000 homes and killed hundreds.
• Health crises, including repeated Ebola outbreaks, measles epidemics, and cholera, further strain the already fragile healthcare system.
• Food insecurity is widespread, with millions struggling to access basic necessities.

“Displaced women, children, and men are not only fearful and in despair but feel powerless. They are now on the run from the camps or homes where they were living, not knowing where they are going to stay or what they are going to eat. Many are children,” said Aline Napon, World Vision’s DRC national director.

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How are conditions in the DRC affecting children?

The country’s humanitarian crisis is severely impacting children, putting their safety, health, and futures at great risk. UNICEF estimates 15.4 million children in the DRC need humanitarian aid. Key challenges include:

• Violence and trauma: Children are exposed to violence, both directly and as witnesses to the destruction and loss of lives. Some children are being forcibly recruited as child soldiers. Prolonged exposure to conflict can lead to long-lasting physical and psychological trauma.

• Lack of healthcare: The healthcare system is stretched thin, making it challenging for children to get the care they need. Outbreaks of Ebola, malaria, and cholera are further exacerbating the health risks faced by children.
• Malnutrition and food insecurity:  Conflict has disrupted agricultural activities, further limiting access to nutritious food — particularly for children who are displaced. Many children in the DRC experience food insecurity and malnutrition, including 1.3 million children who suffer from severe wasting. Malnutrition not only hampers physical growth but also affects children’s ability to learn and develop properly.
• Education disruptions: Many schools are damaged or destroyed, and conflict often makes it unsafe for children to attend class. An estimated 2.7 million children in the DRC are in need of education support, depriving them of opportunities to learn and build a brighter future.
• Exploitation and abuse: Due to a breakdown in social structure and the presence of armed groups, children in the DRC are more vulnerable to exploitation, including child labor, sexual abuse, and trafficking. The displacement that millions are experiencing further adds to these vulnerabilities, as children are at a higher risk of becoming separated from their families and experiencing abuse without their protection.

World Vision’s David Munkley shared his concern regarding the January 2025 outbreak of violence: “My biggest fear is that we are going to see a massive escalation of children and their families on the move and be unable to easily assist. On top of this, past spikes in violence have put children at risk of being recruited into the armed groups or led to increases in girls and women experiencing sexual violence.”

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What are some of the greatest needs of people in the DRC?

The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo face immense challenges, with food security remaining a critical issue. A staggering 62% of the population (about 60 million people) live on less than $2.15 per day. Conflict, natural disasters, and economic instability continue to complicate the food situation. In 2024, 27 million people needed humanitarian assistance due to conflict, food insecurity, weather-related impacts, and epidemics. Forced displacement in the most affected provinces is expected to continue in 2025, worsening the already dire humanitarian emergency.

The DRC has also become the global epicenter of the Mpox epidemic, recording the highest number of cases worldwide. This, compounded by recurring outbreaks of Ebola and cholera, has further strained fragile healthcare systems.

The recent escalation of violence in Goma and its surrounding areas has intensified the crisis. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes, many of whom are left without access to food, clean water, or shelter. Humanitarian operations have been severely disrupted or suspended due to insecurity, roadblocks, and armed conflict, leaving vulnerable communities in desperate need.

Adding to these challenges, in recent years the DRC has also experienced catastrophic flooding and the Mount Nyiragongo volcano eruption.

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What is World Vision doing to help vulnerable people in the DRC?

In our 2024 response programming, World Vision dedicated its efforts to improving the health, nutrition, protection, and education of 2.7 million of the most vulnerable children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our broader goal is to provide vital aid to 10 million vulnerable women and men facing extreme hardship. In 2023, World Vision reached more than 3.4 million people through our lifesaving efforts and programming in the DRC.

However, due to ongoing insecurity, roadblocks, and armed conflict, World Vision has suspended aid operations in certain areas, leaving tens of thousands without food, protection, and essential supplies.

Key infrastructure — including roads, supply lines, and the city’s airport — is inoperable following the January 2025 violence, and power and water have been cut off in many areas. World Vision’s staff in Goma have sheltered in place.

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How can I help affected children and families in the DRC?

• Pray: Pray for children and families caught up in the effects of violence in the DRC.
• Give: Your gift will help provide essential care to children and families made vulnerable by the conflict.

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Since the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on August 14, 2021, the country has experienced a worsening series of crises. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake claimed several thousand lives and injured many more. The disaster exacerbated Haiti’s already fragile state. The country has been struggling with political instability, gang violence, and economic hardship, compounded by a history of natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake that claimed 300,000 lives.

In the wake of the 2021 earthquake and combined with the other ongoing crises, hundreds of thousands of people, including 2 in 3 children, require urgent assistance. Fuel shortages, continuing armed gang violence, and logistical challenges have disrupted relief efforts.

Haiti earthquakes: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

Explore facts and frequently asked questions about the 2021 and 2010 earthquakes, and learn how you can help vulnerable Haitians today.

• Fast facts: 2021 and 2010 Haiti earthquakes
• How did World Vision respond to the 2021 earthquake?
• What challenges does Haiti face today?
• Why was the 2010 Haiti earthquake so destructive?
• How did World Vision respond to the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
• How can I help vulnerable children and families in Haiti?

Fast facts: 2021 and 2010 Haiti earthquakes

• 2021 earthquake: Striking near Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, the 7.2 magnitude 2021 quake claimed over 2,000 lives and affected more than 1.2 million people, including 540,000 children, as reported by UNICEF.
• 2010 earthquake: A powerful 7.1 magnitude quake devastated the capital, claiming 300,000 lives.
• Location: The epicenters of the 2021 and 2010 earthquakes were approximately 63 miles apart and along the same fault line.
• Vulnerability: Haiti remains prone to natural disasters. Over the past decade, the country has endured nine disasters, including the 2016 Hurricane Matthew and the 2021 temblor, according to the World Bank.

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How did World Vision respond to the 2021 earthquake?

While World Vision’s programs were initially outside the quake-hit southern zones, we responded immediately, ultimately reaching over 155,000 people impacted by the disaster. Key areas of our impact include:

• Health and nutrition: Our health and nutrition programming, including mental health and psychosocial support, helped approximately 150,000 people.
• Cash assistance: We provided cash assistance to 11,120 people for essential food and living expenses.
• Food security and livelihoods: Our food security and livelihoods programs reached over 71,000 people through support like food vouchers, savings groups, and agricultural recovery programming.

After the quake, rebuilding lives and livelihoods

Alfred, a merchant in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, found hope after the 2021 earthquake devastated his home and business. His children, Kervens and Erika, who were 18 and 13, respectively, at the time of the earthquake, were able to attend school, both eager to keep learning and dreaming, while Alfred returned to run his own business successfully.

His family suffered a great loss, with their possessions buried beneath the wreckage of their home. Everyone in the community scrambled to find necessities like food, water, and shelter.

“It was a dark time for our family as we faced scarcity in every aspect. Food became a luxury, and our trade was no longer a priority for the people. Everyone was focused on finding sustenance, just like us.” —Dipon, Alfred’s wife

After the disaster, World Vision identified vulnerable households like Alfred’s and quickly supplied them with essential items like food, cooking utensils, and bedding. We also distributed seeds, delivered goats, and provided cash to support his sustainable recovery. With the seeds and the 25,000 gourdes (approximately $184) he received from World Vision, Alfred started a garden that nourished his family throughout the year and expanded his business, which is now consistently profitable. He also joined a World Vision savings group, where merchants can support each other.

Alfred said World Vision’s support exceeded his family’s expectations. “In my time of need, what I craved the most was food and money. I am astonished by how World Vision went above and beyond my expectations,” Alfred said. “They not only provided money and food but also seeds and invaluable items that helped us rebuild our lives,”

Alfred added: “Today, my life has undergone a tremendous transforma­tion. I wake up each day knowing my family has enough food to eat. My children attend school regularly, and my business provides me with a dignified living.”

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What challenges does Haiti face today?

Haiti faces compounded crises alongside natural disasters like earthquakes. Political instability, gang violence, and economic struggles have escalated in the country, leaving 5.5 million people in need of humanitarian aid.

Gang-related crimes, including armed robberies and kidnappings, have hampered aid efforts, while half the population suffers from acute hunger.

Learn more about the Haiti crisis and how World Vision is responding.

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Why was the 2010 Haiti earthquake so destructive?

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck a shallow depth (6.2 miles below the surface), intensifying its impact. With its epicenter just 15 miles away from Port-au-Prince, the capital city where over 2 million lived, inadequate building standards and poor construction led to catastrophic building collapses. As a result, Haiti faced its greatest humanitarian need in its history.

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How did World Vision respond to the 2010 Haiti earthquake?

World Vision’s response to the 2010 quake was its largest-ever coordinated effort at the time. Within minutes of the quake, our local Haitian staff, who also faced significant losses due to the disaster, distributed pre-positioned emergency supplies. In the following years, their dedicated and unwavering efforts helped save lives, alleviated suffering, and equipped thousands of affected Haitians to build a more hopeful future.

We supported nearly 2 million people in the first 90 days, offering essentials like food, shelter, and access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions. Our key achievements from 2010 to 2015:

• 300,000 people were treated for cholera.
• 250,000 students were fed across 800 schools.
• Over 200,000 people were sheltered.
• 90,000 displaced people in camps accessed potable water for almost two years.
• 19,000 farmers were trained in improved agriculture techniques.
• 30 Child-Friendly Spaces were established for nearly 8,000 children.
• 10 schools were constructed.

We stayed in impacted communities and supported families as they rebuilt their lives. World Vision remains committed to empowering Haitian children and families toward sustainable change, helping equip them for a fuller life.

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How can I help vulnerable children and families in Haiti?

• Pray: Lift up children and families affected by recurring disasters in Haiti.
• Give to World Vision’s Disaster Relief Fund: Your gift will help provide emergency food aid, agricultural support, clean water, healthcare, and other essential care to children and families affected by disasters like both the 2021 and 2010 Haiti earthquakes and numerous hurricanes.
• Sponsor a child in Haiti: Help change a child’s life story and the future of their family and community by equipping them with access to nutritious food, healthcare, clean water, quality education, and more.

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Sevil Omer of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.