Sudan, DRC, Colombia Top List of World's Most Neglected Displacement Crises

Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Colombia are at the forefront of the world's most neglected displacement crises, according to a stark warning from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The aid group highlighted Sudan's escalating situation, where a brutal conflict between rival generals since 2023 has displaced over nine million people internally. An additional four million Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries, and nearly 19.5 million face hunger.

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It is incomprehensible that a displacement crisis of similar proportions to the crises in Syria and Ukraine at their peak can continue to worsen almost unnoticed.

Jan Egeland, chief of the NRC, expressed dismay at the lack of attention given to Sudan's crisis, comparing its scale to peak crises in Syria and Ukraine. He attributed this neglect to a global shift towards nationalism and a prioritization of rearmament, leading countries to become "inward-looking." Egeland cautioned that neglecting these crises could lead to future pandemics, mass migration, and significant loss of life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global stability.

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Countries have become much more inward-looking, more nationalist. Rearmament is now an absolute priority because we have to ensure our own security in Europe. But people then forget that there will be pandemics, migratory movements, and enormous loss of human life if we don't invest in hope on other continents.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) appears on the NRC's list for the tenth consecutive year, grappling with an Ebola epidemic that compounds decades of conflict. In 2025, the DRC secured only 27.4 percent of its required funding, leaving over 21 million people in need. Egeland criticized this as a failure of the world to respond to crises not deemed strategically important by wealthy nations, stating millions are abandoned not due to inability, but a choice not to act.

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Africa is just across the Mediterranean, where we go on holiday. And if the continent collapses, we will also suffer the consequences.

The NRC's annual list is compiled based on three key factors: insufficient humanitarian funding, minimal media coverage, and a lack of political will from the international community. Several African nations, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, and Nigeria, have repeatedly featured, indicating a systemic pattern of neglect. The top 10 most neglected crises for 2025 include Yemen, Afghanistan, Honduras, Ecuador, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Mozambique, affecting tens of millions across three continents.

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This is a testament to the world's failure to respond to crises that are not regarded as strategically important for rich countries. Millions of people are being abandoned because we have chosen not to act, not because we cannot.