A new international report has placed African countries at the top of the list of the world’s most neglected humanitarian emergencies, raising alarm over shrinking aid budgets and limited international engagement in crises that continue to displace millions across the continent.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), in its latest Most Neglected Crises report, lists nations such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and Somalia among the ten most invisible and underfunded emergencies globally. Eight of the ten most neglected crises in 2024 were in Africa.
The findings come amid a steep decline in foreign aid. In 2024, humanitarian agencies received just 50 percent of the funds needed to address urgent needs globally, with a shortfall of over $25 billion, according to the NRC.
“These are crises that unfold far from the headlines and political interests of major powers,” said Christelle Hure, NRC’s West Africa advocacy director. “They’re not on front pages, and that lack of visibility results in lives lost.”
Crisis Hotspots: Widespread Displacement, Violence, and Neglect
Cameroon leads the list due to its ongoing Anglophone conflict, Boko Haram violence in the north, and a surge in displacement from neighboring countries. Over 1.6 million people remain uprooted. In 2024, less than half of the required aid was raised, with limited global media attention.
Ethiopia, still grappling with the fallout of the Tigray conflict, now faces fresh violence in Oromia and Amhara, coupled with devastating natural disasters. Around 10 million people have been displaced.
Mozambique appears on the list for the first time, due to renewed insurgent attacks in Cabo Delgado, political unrest following disputed elections, and the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which left 120 people dead and destroyed over 150,000 structures.
Burkina Faso and Mali, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have seized territory, are struggling under military-led governments with shrinking ties to international donors.
Somalia continues to suffer from conflict, drought, and underfunded relief efforts, with displacement persisting at dangerous levels.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Iran, and Honduras round out the list, reflecting a broader trend of humanitarian fatigue and geopolitical disinterest in chronic emergencies.
Donor Retreat: U.S. and Europe Slash Aid Budgets
The report links the worsening conditions to aid cutbacks from traditional donors, particularly the United States, which has drastically reduced its foreign aid allocations under the Trump administration. The dismantling of USAID and budget cuts of over 90% have hit African nations particularly hard.
European countries, including the UK, Netherlands, France, and Germany, have also scaled back humanitarian spending, compounding the crisis.
“Donor fatigue and nationalist policies are closing the space for compassion,” said one aid worker in the Sahel region. “We’re watching preventable tragedies unfold simply because people don’t find them politically convenient.”
Call for African-Led Solutions
The NRC urged the African Union (AU) and member states to lead in addressing these crises, both through political negotiation and by reducing bureaucratic hurdles that delay or restrict humanitarian access.
“This is not just a matter of funding—it’s about political will,” Hure emphasized. “Africa’s leaders must not wait for the world to care. These emergencies demand urgent, coordinated action from within the continent.”