The 10 ‘most neglected’ refugee crises are all unfolding in Africa

The ten “most neglected” displacement crises are all over Africa for the first time, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a report released today, raising concerns about the impact on the continent. the emphasis on the war in Ukraine.

The NRC publishes an annual list of the world’s most “neglected population displacement crises” based on three criteria: the international community’s lack of political will to find solutions; media coverage; and funding to meet the needs of humanitarian aid.

The 2021 ranking shows “the chronic failure of decision-makers, donors and the media to tackle conflict and human suffering on the continent,” said Jan Eggeland, the NGO’s secretary general, according to a press release.

Although African countries often make up the bulk of the list (8 out of 10 in 2020), 2021 is the first year that “all ten are in Africa,” the report said.

As in the previous year, the Democratic Republic of Congo is an example of “neglect”, as it is on this list “for the sixth consecutive time”, the NRC points out, with 5.5 million displaced, especially in the northeastern part of the country.

“This is one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century, and yet inside and outside Africa, those who have the power to change that are turning a blind eye to the waves of barbaric and targeted attacks on civilians and tearing communities apart.” continues the NGO.

In West Africa, Burkina Faso, where more than 1.75 million people have been displaced, especially in the north, where jihadist attacks are raging, ranks second, followed by Cameroon, South Sudan, Chad and Mali. Sudan, Nigeria, Burundi and Ethiopia.

Hunger is on the rise in most of these countries, mainly due to the deteriorating food situation due to the “rise in grain and fuel prices” as a result of the war in Ukraine, the NRC warns.

“Moreover, many of the major donor countries are going to decide or are already going to reduce their aid to Africa, to redirect funds to Ukraine” or to receive Ukrainian refugees in their territory, he adds.