On World Refugee Day, HI Sounds Alarm on Displacement Surge and Aid Decline

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND – In anticipation of World Refugee Day on June 20,  Humanity & Inclusion (HI) warns of a growing humanitarian disaster: a staggering 120 million people were forcibly displaced in 2024, and 120 conflicts worldwide were recorded that same year. This tragic numerical coincidence highlights a more profound crisis - the growing needs of refugees and displaced persons as global aid funding declines. 

The United States and other major donors, announcing drastic reductions in humanitarian aid, now put millions of lives in jeopardy. The overall volume of international humanitarian assistance decreased by 10% in 2024, according to OECD estimates, totaling USD 24.2 billion. It is comparable to the $ 46 billion global appeal launched by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance in 2024.

The United Nations and leading NGOs, including HI, are warning of a widening gap between needs and resources that threatens to undo decades of progress in refugee protection, health, and stability. 

“Wars push families to flee for their lives. But as humanitarian needs soar, support is vanishing,” said HI Advocacy Manager for Humanitarian Affairs Jessica Tropea. “This funding collapse will leave millions without access to food, shelter, healthcare, and protection. It's a devastating blow for the world’s most vulnerable. Donors must reverse course before this crisis deepens further.”

HI’s Support for Refugees Impacted by the Fund Cuts

In 2024, HI supported 137 projects for refugees and displaced people. Of this total, 17 critical operations in countries such as Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Jordan, Syria, Uganda, Thailand, and Ukraine were impacted by funding cuts, with some funds being reduced and others being eliminated. These projects were vital lifelines for communities already pushed to the brink. 

Where Survival Is a Daily Fight

There are at least 500 refugee camps worldwide, but only 22% of the world’s refugees—about 6.6 million people—live in camps. Most of them are overcrowded and under-resourced.

• In Bangladesh, nearly one million Rohingya refugees face a severe health crisis. Over 40,000 pregnant women may lose access to critical care, and 19,000 acutely malnourished children are at risk of being left untreated. 
• In Ethiopia’s Gambela region, funding cuts have shut down nutrition services in most refugee sites, threatening 80,000 children with life-threatening malnutrition.

According to UNHCR estimates, up to 12.8 million displaced people, including 6.3 million children, could be left without life-saving health services in 2025. Refugees will be forced to turn to already overwhelmed local health systems—if any care is available at all. 

The collapse of humanitarian health and protection services also means a surge in preventable deaths from infectious diseases, unsafe childbirth, untreated chronic conditions, and mental health crises. 

HI urges donors to reconsider planned cuts and uphold their responsibilities to displaced populations. Without immediate action, the consequences will be measured in lives lost, children unprotected, and communities destabilized. 

To explore human-impact stories, check this link: Djadah & Haleema, refugees in Chad: finding solidarity after violence.

Spokespersons are available for interviews upon media request.