Imagine being forced to flee your home with nothing but what you could grab in just a few seconds.
What would you bring? Clothes? Food? Photos? Valuables? Would you even be able to choose, knowing that what you left behind would probably be destroyed or stolen?
Over 103 million refugees around the world had to make this decision — one that no one should ever have to face.
And in recent years, the global refugee situation has only worsened due to an increase in conflicts, famine, religious persecution, and the aftereffects of the pandemic. Countless people are living away from home and facing hunger, unemployment, lack of medical care, and more.
Keep reading to learn more about the five countries with the largest refugee crises:
1) Syria
Many Syrian refugees live in poor conditions without access to essentials
Since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, 13 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in the wake of bombings, attacks from terrorist groups like ISIS, and the recent earthquake in February 2023. 6.7 million people are currently displaced within their homeland, while another 6 million are now living in countries like Jordan.
Syria’s refugee crisis is the largest in the world, and they’re facing compounding problems. Because many refugees can’t find jobs, they can’t afford basic necessities. And with rising prices and product shortages, it’s becoming much harder to put food on the table.
Many Syrian refugees also live in overcrowded refugee camps. Their homes consist of tents that do little to protect them from the heat of the day and the freezing temperatures at night. Plus, they are more susceptible to disease without access to proper medical care.
2) Ukraine
Over 70% of Ukrainian refugees are women and children
Though it’s been over a year since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the refugee situation has only gotten worse. 13 million people are displaced — 8 million of them in neighboring countries like Romania, Moldova, and Poland. Many of their homes have been destroyed by missiles and bombs, so they will have nothing to return to once the war is over.
And because many refugees are displaced in foreign countries, many are unable to work. Mothers and children have been especially impacted because most of the men had to stay behind when the fighting started. As a result, families endure separation from loved ones while struggling to afford essentials like food, clothing, and medical care.
3) Afghanistan
Refugees in Afghanistan are enduring human rights abuses
Afghan civilians are not only enduring a refugee crisis, but they’re also facing widespread poverty, life under the Taliban, and the consequences of the recent pandemic. Around 3.4 million people remain displaced within Afghanistan, while 2.1 million have fled the country.
And life under the Taliban has only gone from bad to worse, especially for women and children. Currently, most women are not legally allowed to work, and they can’t travel out of their houses without a male chaperone. Plus, children are at an increased risk of child labor, forced marriage, and malnutrition.
Not only that, but countless Afghan refugees are suffering from hunger, disease, and mistreatment under the country’s new government. Many of them are forced to live in overcrowded camps with little to keep them sheltered from the elements.
4) Venezuela
Refugees from Venezuela struggle to build new lives once they leave
Due to a growing humanitarian crisis within Venezuela, over 7 million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring countries like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Many of them left without knowing where they would go.
Now, Venezuelan refugees are living without the essentials they need to survive. They lack access to food, shelter, and employment. Some have even resorted to begging or going into debt just to afford necessities. Plus, refugee children struggle to attend school because enrollment spots fill up quickly.
5) South Sudan
Many refugees have fled South Sudan because of a violent civil war
Since 2013, South Sudan has been steeped in a civil war. Amid the fighting, civilians have faced attacks, kidnappings, sexual violence, and killings from both sides. The growing humanitarian crisis has caused 2.3 million Sudanese people to flee the country — most of them to Uganda.
And though Sudan has achieved a fragile peace agreement in recent years, Sudanese refugees still face poverty, hunger, and unemployment. An ongoing drought and the aftereffects of the recent pandemic have only worsened the situation for refugees. And since over half of them are under the age of 18, many children are also suffering from starvation and disease.
Amid conflicts, famines, and the repercussions of the recent pandemic, the global refugee crisis isn’t getting any better. More people have been displaced from their homes than ever before.
But right now, you can help a refugee who is struggling. When you give just $35, you will send essentials like food, clothing, and other emergency supplies to a refugee from Afghanistan, Ukraine, or another high-conflict area.
The global refugee crisis may seem overwhelming, but God is even bigger. Please continue to pray for refugees all over the world … and give just $35 to help them survive. When you do, you’ll send critical help and hope to those who need it most.
Will you be the hands and feet of Jesus to a refugee today?