In refugee settlements across the globe from the arid camps of Jordan to the crowded settlements of Uganda; millions are grappling with an escalating humanitarian crisis. With dwindling international funding, humanitarian programs that once provided a lifeline for displaced populations are now on the brink of collapse, leaving refugees hungry, vulnerable, and forgotten.
The United Nations and international aid agencies have repeatedly warned that chronic underfunding is pushing some of the world’s most fragile populations into further despair. Food rations have been halved, health services shuttered, education programs suspended, and essential protection services scaled down. For refugees, who already face the trauma of displacement, this means a dangerous erosion of their dignity, safety, and hope.
In Uganda home to over 1.5 million refugees, the majority from South Sudan, DRC, and Burundi—the impact is stark. Once hailed for its progressive refugee policies, the country is now struggling to meet even the most basic needs. "We used to receive food every month," says Amina, a refugee mother living in Nakivale Settlement. "Now, we wait longer, and when it comes, it’s not enough. Our children go to bed hungry."
The World Food Programme (WFP), one of the main providers of humanitarian food assistance, has been forced to cut food rations by up to 50% in several countries due to critical funding shortfalls. In some areas, they have had to suspend distributions entirely. According to WFP, they require billions of dollars to meet global needs, yet donor fatigue and shifting geopolitical interests have left a gaping hole in their budget.
This crisis is not just about hunger—it is about survival. Without access to clean water, medicine, shelter, or protection, entire communities are being pushed into unsafe coping mechanisms: child marriage, forced labor, exploitation, and illegal migration. Education, too, is on the chopping block, with refugee children dropping out of school because families can no longer afford supplies or transportation.
Local refugee-led organizations and community-based groups are trying to fill the gaps left by international agencies, but they are overwhelmed and underfunded themselves. "We are doing what we can with limited resources," says Ishara Barhame Theophile, a refugee youth leader in Uganda. "But without global solidarity, we are fighting a fire with a spoon."
The international community must urgently respond with renewed commitment. Refugees did not choose displacement. They deserve not only survival but the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. Governments, donors, and global institutions must act swiftly to reverse funding cuts, strengthen local actors, and prevent this humanitarian crisis from becoming a catastrophe.
Because when the world turns its back, desperation takes over and humanity loses.
