Well, no one saw that coming. 2020, what a year!
In an instant our lives changed and many of us struggled to keep up! Yet for children in the world's most dangerous places, 'in an instant' is just a part of life.
Often called 'fragile contexts', dangerous places are characterised by poverty, conflict, political complexities & the growing effects of climate change. Children in these places are highly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, hunger and neglect.
By 2030, an estimated 80% of the world's poorest people will be living in dangerous places. We’re acting now, building flexible solutions for effective impact.
Our programs adapt with the communities we serve. Together we identify the key needs and programs required, in all circumstances. That way when situations inevitably change, we're ready to respond. Helping children to Survive, Recover and Build a Future.
Survive
Crisis or disaster.
Immediate & basic needs for survival. Interventions include: food, water, cash vouchers, medicine, health support, emergency shelter, psycho-social support to process trauma.Recover
Unstable situation improving.
Re-establish essential services, restore community infrastructure. Rebuild or diversify livelihoods (plant crops etc), identify risks & preparedness plans. Facilitate peace building and reconciliation workshops.Build a Future
Situation increasingly stable.
Core poverty reducing & sustainable development programs. Education, teacher & youth 'job ready' training, water & well projects, food security & income generation. Farming resource, skills training, business support.
Markets in Kananga, Kasai Central Province, DRC
Jon Warren (World Vision)
Explore the issues children face in fragile places.
Afghanistan
Children in Afghanistan have experienced deadly conflict for decades, from within and outside their borders. Plagued with weakened institutions, poverty is rife, especially in rural areas. In 2019 a devastating drought forced thousands of families to leave everything in search of food and aid.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Displacement
More children will be on the move in 2021 than any other time in history. Wars, droughts, floods, hunger, and disease displace nearly 40 million children from their homes annually.
Central African Republic
Armed conflict erupted in 2013 and has de-stabilised the country, with widespread killings along communal and often religious lines. Many rebel groups ignored a 2019 peace agreement. Children are very vulnerable to poverty, hunger, and violence. 640,000 people are displaced and nearly 3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Displacement
More children will be on the move in 2021 than any other time in history. Wars, droughts, floods, hunger, and disease displace nearly 40 million children from their homes annually.
Chad
Children in Chad have experienced a steady deterioration of safety and nutrition over the last six years. Chad has been menaced by a terrorist group roaming across several countries in the region. The nutritional situation of children under five is worsening. Basic food is scarce, and because of COVID-19, more expensive.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Displacement
More children will be on the move in 2021 than any other time in history. Wars, droughts, floods, hunger, and disease displace nearly 40 million children from their homes annually.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
DR Congo's people have not prospered despite the land holding vast natural wealth and beauty. Government and rebel forces have battled for decades, devastating rural areas in particular. Children are highly vulnerable to sexual violence, malnutrition and preventable disease.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Violence and Terrorism
Gang violence or terrorism will likely claim tens of thousands of adolescent lives. The threat of violence by gangs or extremist groups holds hundreds of thousands of children back from education and opportunity.
Honduras
San Pedro Sula, the second largest city of Honduras, has been called 'the murder capital of the world'. Here prosperity and gut-wrenching desperation live on either side of the river Blanco. Gang violence, crime, drugs, trafficking, and poverty rob children of their future. In 2020, COVID-19 and natural disasters placed children in further danger.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Violence and Terrorism
Gang violence or terrorism will likely claim tens of thousands of adolescent lives. The threat of violence by gangs or extremist groups holds hundreds of thousands of children back from education and opportunity.
Poverty
Children living in poverty may suffer from hunger, malnutrition, child labour, and child marriage. Economic collapse due to COVID-19 has extremely heightened their vulnerability.
Mali
Children in Mali have witnessed life getting steadily more difficult in their country in recent years. COVID-19 and several other disease outbreaks threaten the health system. Armed groups operating in the country's remote desert northern regions have been steadily moving toward the more populated south.
Violence and Terrorism
Gang violence or terrorism will likely claim tens of thousands of adolescent lives. The threat of violence by gangs or extremist groups holds hundreds of thousands of children back from education and opportunity.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Poverty
Children living in poverty may suffer from hunger, malnutrition, child labour, and child marriage. Economic collapse due to COVID-19 has extremely heightened their vulnerability.
Iraq
1.4 million people in Iraq are displaced, and over 4 million rely on aid. Violent politics, deep poverty, and a severe water and health crisis compounded by COVID-19 threaten Iraqi peoples' ability to survive. Children face abuse, neglect and violence, especially girls.
Poverty
Children living in poverty may suffer from hunger, malnutrition, child labour, and child marriage. Economic collapse due to COVID-19 has extremely heightened their vulnerability.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Displacement
More children will be on the move in 2021 than any other time in history. Wars, droughts, floods, hunger, and disease displace nearly 40 million children from their homes annually.
Somalia
Nearly half of Somalia's population is under 15 years of age. All they and their parents have ever known in Somalia is the dominance of armed groups and few signs of a central government. In a dry climate dominated by violence, the survival of children is always precarious and fragile.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
South Sudan
South Sudan gained its independence in July 2011 after Africa's longest-running civil war. But independence descended into civil war in 2013 with rape, starvation, and land theft waged along ethnic lines. Millions of South Sudanese fled their homes seeking safety and food.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Sudan
Decades-long conflict and continued ethnic tensions have displaced over 2 million Sudanese people, leaving vulnerable children in camps around the country, often with limited essentials. Mass protests in 2019 brought in changes but the challenges at hand are serious, with the economy facing multiple shocks.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Displacement
More children will be on the move in 2021 than any other time in history. Wars, droughts, floods, hunger, and disease displace nearly 40 million children from their homes annually.
Syria
Syrian children have suffered since 2011 when peaceful protests spiralled into deadly violence. Hopes for peace are bleak as the war nears its 10th anniversary in 2021. Nearly 20 million people – 6 million of them children – will struggle to survive without homes, security, or the basics.
Displacement
More children will be on the move in 2021 than any other time in history. Wars, droughts, floods, hunger, and disease displace nearly 40 million children from their homes annually.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Yemen
Conditions for children in Yemen became among the worst in the world when several countries took sides in a simmering internal dispute. Aerial bombings killed and maimed thousands, displaced millions, and destroyed hospitals and the water supply. COVID-19 has killed thousands in a nation that battled chronic hunger before the war.
Conflict
For the last thirty years the world has gradually become less peaceful overall. Violent conflicts kill far more civilians than soldiers. Children die when wars destroy critical things like hospitals or water systems.
Hunger
Hunger can kill a child. Severe acute malnutrition can cause lifelong damage. Around the world over 50 million children under five are already acutely malnourished, a number that would increase with the global pandemic.
Climate Change
Global weather patterns are more severe and likely to set records again in 2021. The world's most vulnerable children face stronger storms and flooding in some places and longer droughts in other places.
Looking back Our work
by the numbers.
Together with our supporters World Vision delivered life-changing impact to millions of children in 2020.
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Each year World Vision provides 590 million meals to those in need. This means that every 6 seconds, 100 meals are provided by World Vision.
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World Vision provides emergency support every year to 5 million children.
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Every year, 2.5 million people learned about the benefits of safe hygiene and handwashing to protect themselves from disease.
Big numbers are incredible but they're made up of resilient individuals, each with their own story of impact. In some of our Childhood Rescue projects community impact looks like this...
- Afghanistan
2,965
Girls, boys, women and men participated in psycho-social and life skills classes. Building futures through education.
- Honduras
10,850
Families helped to survive COVID-19 with hygiene, & essentials kits. Cash vouchers & psycho-social support.
- DRC
2,467
Children survived life threatening malnutrition with the addition of 16 new medical staff, food and education.
- DRC
71,703
People now have access to clean water with 16 new wells implemented through our WASH programs.
Looking back Our work
in lives.
In Honduras & the DRC, children are surviving, recovering and setting foundations for great futures.
"I pray, God give me the strength to go home." - Omar (6)
- Survive
This year, Omar lost his schooling (COVID-19), home (Hurricane Eta) & his Father (gangs). Psycho-social support is critical for his future.
2,467 children alive and recovering from severe malnutrition.
- Recover
In Binza (DRC) severe child malnutrition is a key issue we're tackling with a range of programs, that are working!
Looking Forward Key issues we're
preparing for
in 2021.
Click below to learn how these key issues affect children. Stop, take a moment to see the global scale of each one.
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phases
Countries in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity Phase 3, 4 or 5. Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
If hunger does not kill a child, severe acute malnutrition at an early age can cause lifelong physical and mental damage. The world is not on track to achieve the targets it has set itself to improve nutrition: 50.5 million children under five are acutely malnourished. These children are concentrated in fragile contexts. Conflict and war are the biggest contributors to hunger.
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phases
Countries in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity Phase 3, 4 or 5. Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
If hunger does not kill a child, severe acute malnutrition at an early age can cause lifelong physical and mental damage. The world is not on track to achieve the targets it has set itself to improve nutrition: 50.5 million children under five are acutely malnourished. These children are concentrated in fragile contexts. Conflict and war are the biggest contributors to hunger.
Looking Forward 5 places to
watch in 2021.
World Vision is constantly trying to anticipate and assess threats to the well-being of all children. As we look to 2021 we hope for the best scenarios, whilst responsibly preparing for the worst. Here are five situations we are watching with concern.
Yemen
Yemen will likely remain the hardest place on earth to be a child. Years of war have triggered famine conditions and health systems have collapsed. Yemen is also one of the most difficult and dangerous places in the world for aid workers.
Ethiopia
Events in Ethiopia in 2021 could either build a new future for its children or return to levels of violence, hunger, and poverty not seen in decades. We are scaling up emergency operations in Tigray and are optimistic that reforms will accelerate the well-being of vulnerable children this year.
Mali
In Mali, communal tensions could spiral into a far more serious deterioration in 2021, driving already vulnerable children to flee with their families. Children in the Mopti region could be caught in the crossfire of Mali's rapidly deteriorating security situation and fall victim to rapidly rising sexual violence.
Syria
In 2021, COVID-19 will add even more hardship for millions of Syrian children already crowded in tents, enduring harsh conditions without the basics or the care they need. A miracle breakthrough and international goodwill are needed to end the suffering of Syrian children likely in the coming year.
Honduras
A growing alliance between citizen groups, private companies, and local government is resisting the tide of urban violence afflicting children and youth in San Pedro Sula. Hurricane reconstruction efforts will take some time but could also be an opportunity to bring unity, prosperity for poorer citizens, and greater safety.
Reports from the field On the ground.
Take a few minutes to see how we're supporting Syrian refugees, visit a refugee classroom in Uganda and meet a powerful young leader in the DRC.
Teaching hope & how to cope...
Adel Abou Hanna talks us through how PSS helps refugee children affected by trauma to survive.
Warning: this video contains sensitive material
Ever wondered how refugee children find hope despite such loss?
Aggrey takes a walk through 'Arise & Shine' Child-Friendly Space where South Sudanese children draw their hopes. And it’s amazing!
Don't just read about it, let the incredible Jason tell you about it!
In DRC, Jason, a passionate young man explains how COVID-19 has affected life & the impact it may have on children's futures.
Our Commitment Survive, Recover,
Build a Future.
Complex and dangerous situations aren't going away. And, neither are we! Our commitment to funding and building Childhood Rescue's capacity to reach the most vulnerable children is one of World Vision’s highest priorities.
In 2020, despite COVID-19, disasters, conflict, we've seen that our programs work. In 2021 we'll be strengthening systems and starting new projects as we pursue, Hope, Joy, and Justice for all Children.
What next? What can I do
to make a difference?
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