THEOr we saw for Ukraine and also for Gaza. Conflicts burst, the first disturbing images arrive, the news of humanitarian emergencies touch us, upset us, addure us. Then the days go by and, unless some specific history, capable of breaking through our daily lives, we distract ourselves. But, at least, Kiev and Palestine are daily in the newspapers. What about forgotten crises, like the one in Sudan? For almost two years, the country has been squared by an internal conflict that has caused 12 million displaced people, 3 and a half million refugees in neighboring countries and a food crisis that affects 26 million people. It is the greatest humanitarian crisis in progress, whose entity is obscured by the consequences of conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. A tragedy that is eaten away from the spotlight, which we don’t “feel” anymore.
From Gaza to South Sudan: Italians emotionally involved but not very informed
It is not an impression: we are distracted. The UNHCR has created an investigation with astraricerche on this theme. It emerges that, if 8 out of 10 Italians judge the cuts unjust to humanitarian aid, Only 10.9% of interviewees really knew the problem before being informed during the investigation.
The research reveals an emotionally involved Italy: almost half of the interviewees (44.5%) proof sadness in the face of humanitarian emergencies, 36.3% hope, 34.1% compassion. Empathy was born “from the stomach” In 39.7%of cases and “from the chest” in 27%, much more than “from the head” (only 10.6%). A visceral empathy, therefore, that once informed on the cuts it translates into a clear sentence.
But, in fact, you have to remain on the emergencies, aware of what is happening internationally.
Cuts in humanitarian aid, in the USA Trump’s USA and in European countries
When it comes to cuts to funds for humanitarian emergencies, not only refers to theReset for USAID funds decided by Donald Trump but also by those arranged by several governments. United Kingdom, France, Belgium and the Netherlands are among the countries that most scissor the aid to developmentOften in favor of the rearmament.
As the Monde explains in this piece Things go wrong everywhere. Suffice it to say that the members of the OECD development assistance committee (organization for cooperation and economic development) in 2023 had allocated a total of 223.3 billion dollars in aid. In 2024 They stopped at 212.1 billion dollars: the first drop after five consecutive years of growth.
In 2025 the Budget of France (37%) and that of Belgium (32%) drops. The Netherlands will cut 2.4 billion euros per year starting from 2027. Money that will be redirected towards the defense of “Dutch interests in the sectors of trade and economy, safety and stability, as well as migration”.
Italy In 2024 he was in the eighth place in the ranking of OECD countries for volume of development aid, with a total of 6.67 billion dollars. The percentage on the GNI (Gross National Income) is just 0.28%.
Nyegai Kulang, 40 years old, forced to leave her home because of floods, poses for a photo with her children and the dog in front of her refuge in Bentiu, in South Sudan (photo Tiksa Nene for UNHCR).
South Sudan: what is going on
Since the secession of South Sudan in 2011, after decades of lacerating warsthe relations between Khartoum (capital of Sudan) and Juba (headquarters of the south Sudan executive) are thesis. To divide the two nations, marked by one systemic corruption and from the absence of authoritative governments, disputes remain on the boundaries and oil revenues, accompanied by mutual accusations of support for the many rebellious groups.
Since the end of February, there has been aArmy escalation of the “civil” conflict in South Sudanin particular in the state of the nile upper, but also in other nerve points. Many people died, the essential services have been damaged by forcing a population already exhausted to escape againto deal with diseases and new food insecurity.
War, climatic crisis and cutting cuts: the mix is explosive
As the UNHCR denounced the early June, In the last three months 165,000 people have escaped From growing tensions and conflict, looking for refuge both within the country and beyond the border, aggravating an already disastrous humanitarian situation throughout the region. Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan: refugees seek safety in countries that already have their own problems or they are already facing emergencies because of the continuous cuts to funding. In Ethiopia, for examplefour of the seven nutritional services for refugees were closed, putting 80 thousand children under five under five at risk of severe malnutrition.
Then there is the climatic problem: due to the serious floods, The over 500 thousand displaced people due to the conflict risk losing access to water and medical care. A million refugees will no longer receive food assistance.
The cuts therefore arrived at the worst moment, between the conflict and the shocks due to the climatic crisis.
The malnutrition of pregnant women and children
As emerges from the global report on food crises (GrFC), Acute food insecurity in Sudan affects 25.6 million people. In some areas of the country, conditions of famine persist and for 800 thousand people who live in those areas is humanitarian catastrophe. Furthermore, in the country there acute malnutrition It affects 3.7 million children from 6 months to 5 years and 1.2 million pregnant women And in breastfeeding. The situation is also very serious in the countries of reception of Sudanese refugees: in Ethiopia 22 million people are in conditions of acute food insecurity, in South Sudan 7.1 million and in Chad 3.4 million.
In the refugee camps of Maban, Batil and Bor took his photos TiksaEne, Ethiopian photojournalist: images that portray the daily life of refugees.
Let’s go back to hearthe UNHCR campaign
To rekindle our personal attention on forgotten humanitarian conflicts and emergencies, UNHCR launched the campaign “Let’s go back to hear”. To raise funds (here how to donate) but also for «reiterate that cutting humanitarian aid means betraying the principles of solidarity that define our humanity», As he explains Laura IucciDirector of UNHCR Italia fundraising. The cuts “risk frustrating the stabilization efforts of entire geographical areas. Propinging people of indispensable goods such as food and water means, in fact, to push them into the hands of traffickers who will offer them to move elsewhere. Let us not be overwhelmed by the sense of impotence or, worse, by indifference ».
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