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NGOs demand aid for forgotten crises amid funding shortfalls
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

NGOs demand aid for forgotten crises amid funding shortfalls

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • NGOs highlight the critical need for funding for humanitarian crises that are often overlooked by media.
  • The Spanish Emergency Committee warns that some emergencies disappear from headlines before the situation is resolved.
  • Despite increased Spanish government aid, NGOs emphasize the importance of public donations to respond to severe, underreported crises like the one in Sudan.

As the world observes World Humanitarian Aid Day, non-governmental organizations are sounding the alarm over dwindling funding and media attention for crises that continue to devastate millions. Sara Barbeira, director of the Spanish Emergency Committee, points out that while some emergencies capture global headlines, others remain "invisible" despite their severity, fading from public view long before the actual needs on the ground have been met.

The problem is that crises are usually in the media spotlight for a maximum of one week.

— Sara BarbeiraSara Barbeira, director of the Spanish Emergency Committee, describes the fleeting nature of media coverage for humanitarian crises.

Barbeira explained that media coverage often focuses intensely on a crisis for a short period, after which attention wanes. This lack of sustained visibility makes it challenging for NGOs to secure the necessary resources. She cited the dire situation in Sudan, where over 14 million people have been displaced by conflict, as a prime example of a grave emergency that receives little to no media coverage, despite its scale.

The problem is that mediatically, crises are usually in the spotlight for a maximum of one week, and some crises disappear without the emergency having ended.

— Sara BarbeiraBarbeira elaborates on the issue of media attention, highlighting that crises often fade from view before the situation is resolved.

The Spanish Emergency Committee, established in 2017, unites specialized NGOs to coordinate joint appeals for humanitarian aid. Last year, its member organizations were active in six emergencies, raising 221,070 euros from nearly 3,000 donors. However, Barbeira stressed that international funding for humanitarian aid is currently insufficient, underscoring the vital role of public donations.

The problem is that mediatically, crises are usually in the spotlight for a maximum of one week, and some crises disappear without the emergency having ended. The problem is that mediatically, crises are usually in the spotlight for a maximum of one week, and some crises disappear without the emergency having ended.

— Sara BarbeiraBarbeira emphasizes the challenge of 'invisible' emergencies that lack media focus despite their severity.

While the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported a significant increase in its humanitarian aid budget, rising by 115% to 140.2 million euros over the past four years, NGOs maintain that continuous public support is crucial. They activate joint appeals only when a crisis is severe, at least seven of the committee's eight member organizations are present in the affected country, and there is potential for public engagement.

The problem is that mediatically, crises are usually in the spotlight for a maximum of one week, and some crises disappear without the emergency having ended.

— Sara BarbeiraBarbeira highlights the issue of 'invisible' emergencies that receive little to no media attention.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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