Archive for category: Refugees

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How DREAMS for Refugees Provides Long-term Solutions

A diverse group inside a large tent, symbolizing DREAMS for refugees' community focus.In the past couple of years, the global refugee crisis has steadily grown. Currently, more than 43 million refugees depend on humanitarian aid, and as wealthy countries such as the United States withdraw their aid, the crisis worsens. While many refugee camps provide immediate aid such as food, water, shelter and medical care, they are not intended to be a long-term solution.

Immediate versus Long-Term Aid

While refugee camps are excellent for providing immediate assistance for refugees suffering from extreme poverty, they do not provide lasting support. People rely on the camps for support and lack the ability to permanently lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Refugee camps were designed to be temporary shelters, but the people who reside in them require something permanent.

The Solution

In their joint project entitled “DREAMS for Refugees,” DREAMS for Refugees Uganda offers sustainable solutions, empowering communities through innovative programs and reducing dependency on aid. are working to install permanent solutions in refugee communities. Beginning in the Ugandan Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, they are combining two well-researched tactics.

Village Enterprise employs a poverty graduation program. This approach uses provision, coaching and structural changes to benefit poor communities. Assets are provided, and teaching allows people to use those assets in productive ways.

This program is combined with Mercy Corps’ market system development program, which allows the refugee community to thrive financially. Together, these two strategies have the potential to create thriving communities.

Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement and Beyond

The Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement was created in Uganda in 2016. After the implementation of DREAMS, the first businesses opened in the fall of 2022.

In 2023, DREAMS for Refugees expanded to Ethiopia. It is estimated that it will reach 200,000 refugees.

The project received Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Award and was the 2021 winner of the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award for Refugees.

Village Enterprise and Mercy Corps intended DREAMS to be an evidence-led approach to fighting poverty. To determine the effectiveness of the program, IDinsight is conducting a trial to assess its results.

Why the DREAMS Model Matters

The DREAMS program represents the shift from offering basic necessities to refugees to improving lives and setting people up for success. Not only does this program help the individual, but the evolution of small businesses will strengthen the economies of these settlements as a whole.

This long-term approach is especially helpful in a period of reduced foreign aid by wealthy countries, as it repurposes money to create lasting success as opposed to short-term survival.

Looking Ahead

As the number of refugees living in extreme poverty increases and the amount of foreign aid dwindles, investing in long-term solutions becomes more important than ever. The future of foreign aid is uncertain, so actions to change it must be taken now. Assisting with establishing independence rather than creating dependency on consistent aid is not only more financially viable, but it protects the dignity of refugees. If DREAMS continues to be successful, it could serve as a model for communities experiencing extreme poverty around the world.

– Julia Cholerton

Julia is based in Gig Harbor, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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USAID Programs in Mauritania

USAID Programs in MauritaniaMauritania in West Africa is one of the most arid countries on earth. Recurrent droughts push communities into food insecurity and only a fraction of the land is suitable for farming. For rural populations in regions like Guidimaka, simply growing enough food to survive the dry season is a daily struggle. USAID programs in Mauritania worked to change that, through emergency relief, but also by investing in youth employment and good governance programs to increase the capacity of Mauritania to sustain itself. Following the dismantling of USAID in 2025, much of that work now faces an uncertain future. Understanding what these programs achieved matters, as a record of progress and as a reminder of what is at stake.

Mauritania is a vast nation of approximately 5.3 million people in West Africa. Only 0.4% of its land is suitable for agriculture and more than 590,000 people face acute malnutrition during the 2025 lean season alone. Instability in neighboring countries has also deepened the crisis. In addition, Mauritania now hosts 288,000 refugees. This has placed additional pressure on already stretched food and resource supplies.

Feeding Refugees at Mbera Camp

In February 2024, USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance contributed $5 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver urgent relief to Malian refugees at the Mbera camp in eastern Mauritania. This aid reached 65,000 food-insecure refugees through cash assistance, while 4,000 malnourished children under the age of 5 and 350 pregnant and breastfeeding women received more specialized, nutritious care.

The results from previous years demonstrate what these investments can achieve. In 2023, WFP reached around 83,400 refugees in the camp with monthly cash distributions, supported by USAID and other donors. Following cuts to USAID, the United States government is still providing food aid through the WFP, meaning these vulnerable communities will still be receiving support.

Investing in Young People

According to UNESCO, “more than 60% of Mauritania’s population is under 25.” Youth unemployment among 15 to 24-year-olds stands at an estimated 23%. USAID’s Nafoore initiative, meaning “add value” in the Fulani language, tackled this directly. The five-year $17 million program, which began in 2022, focused on building economic skills and expanding income opportunities for people aged 15-29 in vulnerable communities.

Alongside Nafoore, USAID also funded the Tamkeen project, meaning “empowerment” in Arabic. This is a $7 million, five-year initiative implemented by FHI 360, a global nonprofit organization aimed at improving public health and human development. Tamkeen built networks of youth and community groups across eight regions of Mauritania, created safe spaces for young people to develop leadership skills and worked to counter the spread of disinformation. Altogether, these two programs represented a serious, long-term investment aimed at improving the country’s next generation.

Strengthening Democracy

USAID programs also supported efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in Mauritania. The Kofo Sugande project, meaning “People’s Choice,” was funded by USAID and implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. This project supported Mauritania’s national electoral commission ahead of its 2023 general elections and the 2024 presidential election, making both more inclusive and accessible to voters. Its long-term aim was to strengthen Mauritania’s capacity to run credible elections independently.

The Cost of Losing This Support

The breadth of USAID programs in Mauritania, spanning emergency relief, food security, youth empowerment, civic engagement and democratic governance, shows how interconnected all of these programs were. Each addressed a different root cause of poverty and instability, and they all reinforced each other.

In 2025, the dismantling of USAID brought many of these programs to a halt. For a country like Mauritania, where the need is acute and homegrown resources are limited, the consequences are serious. The progress made at Mbera camp, in youth centers across different regions and in electoral commissions across the country did not happen by accident. It was the result of consistent, targeted support. Without it, the communities that relied on these programs will be left more exposed and vulnerable than before. Thankfully, through the WFP the U.S. government will still provide food aid to Mauritania, helping those facing food insecurity and malnutrition.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez Da Fonte Martins

Gonzalo is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Projected GDP Growth Could Stabilize Poverty in Moldova

Poverty in moldovaAccording to data from the World Bank and the United Nations (U.N.), Moldova is currently the poorest country in Europe based on its GDP and percentage of citizens living below the poverty line. One primary reason for the widespread poverty in Moldova is the Russo-Ukrainian War. Moldova has taken in the highest rate per capita of Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war, an estimated 131,000 as of May 2025. Project Hope reports that more than 1 million Ukrainian refugees have crossed the Moldovan border, but only about 148,000 have remained. The population of Moldova now sits at 2.96 million according to the U.N., but it has endured a steady decline as citizens continue to emigrate to escape the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on Moldova

International relief efforts in Moldova have been increasing due to escalations in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Created in 1961, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the branch of the United Nations that deals with food assistance and is also the largest global nonprofit addressing poverty. It projects that the poverty rate in Moldova is now 33.6%, compared to 25% before the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War. This increase has negatively impacted Moldovans’ quality of life, access to food and shelter and the ability to provide for their families. Organizations from around the globe have stepped in to provide relief to those struggling in Moldova as a result of the conflict.

Relief for Moldovan Nationals and Ukrainian Refugees

In partnership with the Moldovan government and the U.N., the WFP has provided significant relief to both Ukrainian refugees at the Moldovan border and Moldovan families welcoming them. The WFP provides financial support to Ukrainian refugees and their host families across Moldova, as well as three hot meals a day in Ukrainian refugee accommodation centers. It describes its financial relief efforts: the WFP is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on a government initiative — the Provision of Emergency Cash Assistance to Crisis-Affected Populations and Integration of Shock Response into the National Social Protection System in Moldova — which provides emergency multipurpose cash to the most vulnerable Moldovans to cover their essential needs and promote social cohesion between refugees and Moldovans.

Project Hope is a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving access to health care in regions affected by disaster and conflict. Founded in 1958 in the United States, it is now an international organization. In partnership with The Moldova Project, Project Hope has helped establish nine child-friendly safe spaces to provide play spaces, education, mental health and integration services for Ukrainian children, parents and caregivers. These playrooms have supported more than 9,000 Ukrainian refugees and host community members. Project Hope has also supplied primary health care facilities in highly impacted areas such as the Ștefan Vodă, Florești and Telenești districts with supplies and equipment. In addition, Project Hope introduced mobile medical units across Moldova, which have treated approximately 4,000 patients who otherwise would have gone without medical attention. These units transport one doctor, nurse and driver to rural and underserved communities across Moldova.

Looking Ahead

As of June 3, 2026, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development projected that Moldova’s GDP will grow 2.8% in 2026 and another 3.5% in 2027. This growth results from increased performance in sectors such as agriculture and construction, as well as the economic stabilization recent relief efforts have brought. GDP growth is significantly linked to poverty reduction, as economic growth typically bolsters the incomes of every economic class. Although the poverty rate in Moldova is still approximately one-third, these new projections and parallel relief efforts for refugee assistance are beginning to alleviate its position as the most poverty-stricken country in Europe.

– Natalie Naylor

Natalie is based in New York, NY and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Migration to South Sudan

Migration to South SudanSouth Sudan has experienced decades of colonial rule and internal conflict and two violent civil wars, the second of which lasted more than two decades and claimed an estimated 2 million lives. It also experienced a 2011 referendum which saw nearly 99% of the population vote in favor of independence. Today, net migration to South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, is estimated to be the “world’s highest,” sitting at 39.6 migrants per 1,000 population.

Despite many people migrating to South Sudan to seek refuge, the country remains one of the worst humanitarian crises globally. There have been multiple failed attempts at peace agreements and cease-fires in the region, with “political violence and instability” between government forces and rebel groups persisting. Further agricultural issues present themselves, with the country’s tropical climate leaving it highly vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters. Therefore, the high rates of migration to South Sudan, combined with these factors, mean that currently more than half the South Sudanese population (7.8 million) face “acute food insecurity.”

The Numbers Examined  

Since April 2023, the neighboring country, Sudan, has seen an ongoing brutal civil war between rival factions of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SDF) and Rapid Supported Forces (RSF). Around 19 million people are facing “crisis levels of hunger,” with one in three Sudanese experiencing displacement from their homes. Out of the 605,062 refugees and asylum seekers settled in South Sudan at the end of 2025, 95% were Sudanese refugees.

In 2025, South Sudan hosted the third most Sudanese refugees. A contributor to this is the prima facie refugee status that the South Sudanese government granted, which allows an individual to receive acknowledgment as a refugee based on the objective circumstances in their home country, rather than individual evaluation. A large proportion of these migrants are nationals returning to the country, having originally fled to Sudan as refugees. Among the refugees, around 76% are women and children combined.

Nearly two years on since the Sudan conflict began in 2023, an Oxfam report showed that more than 1 million refugees and returnees have fled to South Sudan, seeking refuge. Figures show that an estimated 1,500 people were arriving daily at Renk transit centers, located in northern South Sudan, meaning these facilities were operating at “five times their intended capacity.”

The Consequences of Mass Migration

The consequences of this mass migration to South Sudan, a country already experiencing a “catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” is devastating. Alongside these high levels of incoming migrants, South Sudan is battling with massive levels of internal displacement. At the end of 2024, 1.8 million South Sudanese individuals had been internally displaced.

A large reason for these high levels of displacement is the continued armed conflict and intercommunal violence within the country, with areas such as the Upper Nile experiencing the worst effects. This conflict has made it increasingly difficult for communities to receive appropriate aid, as well as an increase in “protection risks,” particularly in vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied children.

The migrant crisis has produced a greater strain on already sparse resources, with farmers using as little as 5% of agricultural land due to issues such as fuel price increases and changing weather patterns. An example of this is the widespread flooding that has occurred in 44 of South Sudan Counties, affecting 1.4 million people. The agricultural sector in South Sudan simply does not have the capacity to meet the needs of its people.

Internally, there are also large infrastructural issues. South Sudan boasts a large oil industry, accounting for 90% of the government’s revenue. However, much of these profits are going toward improving the lives of the elites, such as government officials.

Aid and Response 

Many of South Sudan’s rural areas now rely solely on international aid to survive. An organization helping to provide this aid is Oxfam, delivering humanitarian assistance to 500,000 people. In the town of Renk, one of Oxfam’s initiatives includes providing “hygiene and dignity kits” for locals, which can include necessities such as soap or menstrual items for women.

Another organization that has played a major role in providing aid to the region for decades is Christian Aid. Its “From Violence to Peace” approach seeks to enable communities in South Sudan, by equipping them with the “knowledge and tools” regarding conflict that they require. The aim here is to allow the people to confront the underlying causes of conflict and participate in a comprehensive peace for their country.

Other African nations are also playing their part to assist with this crisis. In 2024, Uganda hosted 43% of South Sudanese refugees, the highest in the region. The country’s progressive approach offers rights such as “access to land and services” to those who migrate there. Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya all granted prima facie status to South Sudanese refugees, allowing them “immediate protection and support.”

South Sudan’s Future 

Despite help from those in the region and internationally, much work is still necessary in South Sudan. With more than 2.3 million South Sudanese remaining as refugees in neighboring countries, there will come a time when some of these people will return home. This leaves the country and its people facing a seemingly impossible equation to solve; a declining amount of food supplies alongside an ever increasing number of mouths to feed.

At the end of 2024, the “South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan” only received 27% of its funding. Due to “lack of governance” much foreign aid often fails to reach those who need it most. International governments have received criticism for not doing enough to implement long-term strategies to help relieve this humanitarian crisis. The people of South Sudan should not have to face this crisis alone; they cannot afford to experience abandonment as the consequences would be devastating.

– William Snow

William is based in Chepstow, Wales and focuses on Good News and Technologyfor The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Hope for Refugees in Iran

Refugees in IranSince early 2026, essential infrastructure in Iran has been disrupted, including health care systems, transportation networks and water services. These disruptions have made it increasingly difficult for humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable populations. Strained supply chains and limited access to basic provisions have further complicated the situation for uprooted communities.

The United Nations (U.N.) estimates suggest that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran since the beginning of 2026, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis.

As displacement increases, the need for emergency assistance continues to escalate. Forced from their residences, families must contend with shortages of food, shelter and clean water. Many face temporary camps or overcrowded living conditions where access to basic needs is limited. Iran already hosts millions of refugees, and the current unrest is further complicating the situation. Millions of displaced people rely on Iran’s resources.

Hope for Refugees in Iran

Despite these challenges, international organizations have mobilized life-saving support. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continues to support one of the largest refugee populations in the world. As of 2026, approximately 1.65 million forcibly displaced people reside in Iran, including about 770,000 registered refugees, the majority of whom live in urban areas.

For the past 40 years, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing food assistance to refugees in Iran. In addition to supporting refugees, WFP has the capacity to assist the government in crisis situations. In Iran, WFP supports more than 32,500 refugees through a combination of cash transfers, food distributions and school-based nutrition programs.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) continues to provide medical care, disaster relief and community-based support services in affected areas. The IFRC launched a CHF 40 million emergency appeal to support humanitarian operations, aiming to assist up to 5 million people across 30 provinces in Iran. Relief efforts include emergency medical services, shelter, water and sanitation support and mental health services delivered by thousands of staff and volunteers.

Additional Organizations Supporting Refugees in Iran

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provides legal assistance, shelter and education support to displaced populations. In Iran, NRC has supported more than 40,000 refugees and vulnerable host community members annually through education programs, legal aid and livelihood assistance.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) delivers health care and protection services in crisis-affected settings worldwide. Globally, the IRC reached more than 31.5 million people in 2023, including displaced and refugee populations in countries such as Iran through partner-supported programs.

Relief International works to expand access to education, health care and clean water for vulnerable communities. In Iran, the organization supports a population of nearly 3 million Afghan refugees, providing health care, education, vocational training and small business support. In 2023, its programs in Iran included supporting 18 schools, assisting more than 3,000 children with education and providing cash assistance to approximately 3,000 individuals.

Looking Ahead

As the situation continues to unfold in Iran, international awareness and sustained support will be essential. Humanitarian organizations working across the country continue to demonstrate that coordinated, targeted assistance can reach displaced populations even in complex and fast-moving crises.

– Erin Sian Mongillo

Erin is based in North Haven, CT, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Migration to Bangladesh – The Rohingya Crisis

Migration to BangladeshThe Rohingya remain one of the most displaced people in the world, with more than a million Rohingya currently living as refugees outside of Myanmar and more than 3 million internally displaced. Fearing persecution, many have sought refuge in neighboring countries, including in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp, in Bangladesh where they continue to face dire living conditions. Here is more information about the Rohingya and migration to Bangladesh.

Who Are the Rohingya?

The name Rohingya refers to an indigenous Muslim ethnic minority who were living in the Arakan Kingdom, which Burma, now known as Myanmar, invaded in 1784. 

Historically, Burma fell under the colonial occupation of the British during which time, the Rohingya people remained in Arakan and maintained their language and community while living alongside the Buddhist Rakhine, who resented their presence in the region. 

Disputes between the Muslim Rohingya and the Buddhist Rakhine intensified through the Japanese invasion during World War II and continued on after Myanmar gained its independence in 1948. From then on, the Myanmar government has continuously denied the Rohingya people their right to citizenship and launched systematic persecution against the Rohingya, which lasts to this day. 

The situation got drastically worse in 2017 and drove nearly half a million Rohingya out of their home country resulting in a large Rohingya migration to Bangladesh. The Rohingya people remain stateless to this day. 

Migration to Bangladesh

As of 2025, more than 1 million Rohingya refugees reside in the world’s largest refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar, in Bangladesh where living conditions are precarious. Aside from overcrowding, refugees currently face other humanitarian challenges such as:

  • Poor access to water and food 
  • Poor access to healthcare
  • Poor access to education
  • Malnutrition and spread of infections
  • Risk of exploitation and insecurity

UNICEF noted more than 235,000 refugee children between the ages of 5-17 have no access to schools, leaving them vulnerable to child trafficking and labor. Furthermore, Rohingya refugees do not have a legal right to leave the camp or to work on their own terms. On top of this, the Rohingya people are left to navigate their trauma on their own and many children are born in limbo. Currently, the Rohingya crisis is being addressed at the International Court of Justice.

Remaining Hopeful

As court proceedings unravel, many organizations continue to work on the ground to meet the needs of the Rohingya people in refugee camps. 

  • International Rescue Committee (IRC): The IRC is working to bring lifesaving aids to refugees in Cox’s Bazar, including a recently launched measles response to a major outbreak in April 2026, which includes vaccinations and other health services for 20,000 children aged 6 months to 5 years in Rohingya refugee camps. The IRC also provides child protection and education programs in the refugee camps, with more than 400 staff operating across 33 camps in Bangladesh.
  • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF is working to provide healthcare support on the ground, including mental health support and maternity care to refugees not only in Cox’s Bazar, but all around the world. With an increasing influx of refugees arriving to Cox’s Bazar, there are increased risks of infections, which MSF staffs are helping to alleviate. In 2025, MSF launched a “test and treat” campaign, which addresses the alarming rate of hepatitis C infections among the Rohingya refugees. Of 2,136 individuals who were positive for hepatitis C, MSF has already treated 2,102 individuals.
  • UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency: Migration to Bangladesh comes with various challenges, especially weather hazards. From May to October, Bangladesh faces the monsoon season, which comes with heavy rainfall and storms. This poses an immediate threat to refugees living tents not designed to withhold such extreme weather conditions. The UNHCR has a monsoon response where staffs provide practical assistance to families impacted by the monsoon. In anticipation for the monsoon season, the UNHCR staffs provide tie-down kits to as many as 40,000 households to help them upgrade their shelters.

Looking Ahead

With recent cuts in foreign aid in the U.S. and the U.K., humanitarian efforts supporting the Rohingya community proving more challenging, the work does not stop. However, with the help of individual donors around the world, aid workers are able to continue helping refugees. The good news is that the Rohingya people now have their voices being heard at the International Court of Justice, so the world can no longer turn away.

– Marine Baume

Marine is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Migration to Peru: How Venezuelans Are Rebuilding Their Lives

Migration to PeruMigration to Peru has dramatically changed in recent history. Many Peruvians have left the country for better economic opportunities, but Peru has now become one of South America’s major destinations for Venezuelans in search of safety, work and a new life. According to the U.N. Refugee Agency, Peru had 530,369 Venezuelans asylum-seekers and 4,957 formally recognized refugees as of June 2025. These numbers show how migration to Peru has become an important humanitarian and economic issue for the country.

Why Venezuelans Are Migrating to Peru

Venezuela’s economic collapse became one of the main reasons for migration to Peru. In 2017, Venezuela’s annual inflation rate was 438.1%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making goods and services harder to afford and wages less stable. Inflation, shortages of food, medicine and essential services pushed many Venezuelans to migrate in search of safety and economic stability. Peru became an attractive destination where they could work and have a chance at a new life.

Challenges After Arrival

Despite many Venezuelans arriving in Peru with strong educational backgrounds, many have found it difficult to find jobs that match their qualifications. The Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement reports that 30% of Venezuelans in Peru have a tertiary education, compared with 21% of Peruvians. However, many Venezuelans are working low-productivity jobs, with 40% working in elementary occupations and 26% working in sales and services. This information shows that many Venezuelans are overqualified for their jobs, yet they still cannot find positions that match their degree.

One reason for this mismatch is that many Venezuelans cannot validate their degrees or professional credentials in Peru. The Joint Data Center reports that only 8% of highly educated Venezuelan migrants had validated their educational degrees, with the main barrier being the cost of the process. As a result, skilled Venezuelans may end up in lower-paying or informal work. Some have turned to digital jobs, including food delivery, where Venezuelans make up an estimated 53% of delivery workers.

Discrimination can also make the integration process harder. The Joint Data Center reports that almost one-third of Venezuelans in Peru have experienced some form of discrimination, and the percentage is higher among those with higher levels of education. Public perception can influence access to employment, including false ideas that Venezuelans are taking jobs or increasing crime. These obstacles show that migration to Peru is not only about arrival but also about access to work, legal recognition and social acceptance.

Organizations Helping Migrants Integrate

Organizations such as the U.N. Refugee Agency and Education Cannot Wait have made efforts to support Venezuelans. The U.N. Refugee Agency helps Venezuelans by providing legal protection, documentation and access to basic services. Through protection spaces and partner organizations, UNHCR provides guidance on rights, refugee status, migration procedures and available services. It has also connected Venezuelans with health services, education and employment support. As of 2025, UNHCR had assisted 39,029 people, supported 557 families with case management and provided legal assistance to 2,885 people. These efforts have helped Venezuelans move from emergency survival toward long-term integration in Peru.

Education Cannot Wait has also helped Venezuelans in Peru by supporting children’s access to education. Since 2019, ECW has supported the Government of Peru and national partners through $1.8 million in emergency grants and a $7.4 million Multi-Year Resilience Programme. These programs helped refugee, migrant and host-community children access education, recover from COVID-19 learning loss and stay safe in schools. Its 2024–2027 Multi-Year Resilience Programme aims to reach 50,850 children and adolescents in Metropolitan Lima and La Libertad. The program supports learning recovery, school materials, teacher training, children with disabilities and violence-prevention efforts, helping Venezuelan children continue their education while making schools more inclusive for migrants and local communities.

Looking Ahead

Venezuelans have made Peru their second home, even while facing challenges such as low-productivity jobs, discrimination and difficulty validating their degrees. However, support from the Peruvian government, UNHCR, ECW and other organizations has helped expand access to documentation, education and safer communities. With continued support, migration to Peru can become not only a story of displacement, but also one of recovery, integration and rebuilding lives.

– Mateo Alcocer

Mateo is based in West Hills, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Life, Community and Poverty in Al-Qalamoun

Poverty in Al-QalamounIn a small region in Lebanon, between the mountains and the sea, lies the town of Al-Qalamoun. Al-Qalamoun is located in northern Lebanon, in the Tripoli district of the North Governorate. It is home to around 4,000 Lebanese citizens and also welcomes refugees from Syria and Palestine.

The town’s supportiveness is discussed in The Borgen Project’s interview with one of the town’s most famous women, who noted that Al-Qalamoun is very hospitable. She also described life in the town, touching on poverty, its consequences and especially the supportive community of Al-Qalamoun.

Poverty in Al-Qalamoun

There have been some changes in this town over the last few years that continue to the present. Education is no longer given the same value it once was. A witness to this change states that the level of public schools has decreased. Before, only a few parents placed their children in private schools, while the rest trusted public schools. They all cared about guaranteeing a good education for their children.

However, in this modern age, parents struggle to afford the fees to enroll their children in private schools. This has demotivated some parents and led them to neglect the importance of education. This poses a threat to the future of the town’s new generation. The possible future of this is intertwined with the town’s job market. 

According to Baynetna Media, the job market is in a “deep crisis.” There are many jobless people despite the town’s large potential. Jobs could be created due to the rich harvest linked to olives, oranges and floral water. However, many young adults did not attend college and therefore have not acquired a high level of education. 

The interviewee explains how this disrupts the marriage market: “Poverty affects the marriage market.” Interestingly, although the town is quite populated, the number of marriages is diminishing. As some families are more impoverished than others, some young adults in Lebanon do not have a clear career path. Especially in this town, they either travel to another country to work in a clothing store or a restaurant or they do not work at all. This leads some of them to grow up with no prospects and, thus, no marriage potential. The lack of education leaves them unable to secure a job.

Baynetna Media highlights that the youth are most affected by the Lebanese labor market. Additionally, the instability of the Lebanese dollar rate plays a significant role in poverty. This prompts people living in urban areas like Al-Qalamoun to “rely on informal and casual employment” to stay afloat. Studies show that “The Lebanese pound ranks as the weakest currency in the world in 2026.” Therefore, even employed citizens suffer from the country’s fragile economy.

An Attempt To Prevent Poverty in Al-Qalamoun

The issue in Al-Qalamoun is a scarcity of jobs in the town itself. Therefore, people seek jobs outside the town. An expert on the town explains, “Money is being spent while making money.” In other words, people spend money on gas or other necessities to work outside the town. However, despite the challenges of finding a job, this does not mean the town’s residents are divided. 

On the contrary, whenever people are made aware of who is in need, they immediately raise awareness. This is done through a WhatsApp channel created for residents, of which all are part. Through this channel, announcements are published and whoever has the capacity to help does so. Additionally, the interviewee expressed how proud she is of the medical community, especially the Red Cross. 

She explained that back in the day, when her mother needed help, they would have to wait for ages. However, nowadays, the Red Cross is very active in Al-Qalamoun. The Lebanese Red Cross is highly significant, as it helps citizens with whatever emergencies they are facing. It makes every effort to help in times of crisis.

Furthermore, there is a significant community group that distributes food every month called the Ibad Al Rahman Association. It is reliable and of great help to people in need. In addition, it is especially active during the holidays. Another example of the stable aid available in this town is the money sent by relatives living abroad. 

In Lebanon, people who travel abroad often try their best to provide their families back home with as much financial help as they can. As a result, in Al-Qalamoun, a significant portion of the support provided comes from individuals who no longer reside in the area. They try to lessen the financial burden of their loved ones. 

The town of Al-Qalamoun is itself an underserved region, in that much of its funding comes from outside. However, that does not mean it is declining. In reality, the support offered by these communities and relatives abroad helps the town’s residents stay afloat.

Moving Forward

Al-Qalamoun is built on a community full of love and support. This support comes from inside and outside the town, showing the impact of its generous and welcoming residents. The interviewee, who has lived there her whole life, offers insight into what poverty looks like in Al-Qalamoun. However, despite the turmoil in Lebanese lives, no one gives up on one another. Together, the town’s residents make sure no one is left behind as they work to ease the financial burden on people’s backs. 

– Lara Ibrahim

Lara is based in Créteil, France and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia

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School Meals and Refugee Education in Chad

Refugee Education in ChadIn Chad, education is the path to a more stable future free of long-term hardship, yet millions of children remain out of school. Education Cannot Wait announced a $20 million grant in December 2024 to extend its multi-year resilience program in Chad, following a report that at least 3.2 million children and adolescents were absent from the classroom. This funding is expected to reach 66,000 crisis-affected learners.

That matters in a country where issues such as conflict spillover, climate shocks and poverty continue to disrupt education. School meals and refugee education in Chad are essential because food support and classroom access can work together during emergencies.

The Crisis in Eastern Chad

The pressure has only intensified since war broke out in neighboring Sudan in April 2023. The World Food Programme (WFP) says the Central African country now hosts 1.5 million refugees. They include 900,000 people who immigrated from Sudan, putting greater strain on communities that were already experiencing immense poverty and food insecurity.

In eastern Chad, UNICEF reported in April 2026 that 900,000 children were not registered in an educational institution. The same report said nearly 300,000 refugee children in the east were not receiving any schooling.

Why School Meals Matter

School meals are one of the clearest tools helping children stay in class. WFP says its emergency response to this problem included providing school meals for more than 125,000 children in refugee-hosting areas in 2025. It also supports home-grown school feeding programs that connect schools with local farmers so children can consume locally sourced meals while rural producers gain a market for their crops. 

According to WFP, this approach has already improved nutrition and school attendance outcomes for more than 110,000 children. In a crisis setting, a meal at school helps improve learning and household food security.

Education Support Beyond Food

Education support is also expanding beyond meals. Education Cannot Wait says more than 40% of the 66,600 children targeted through its new grant will be refugees. The program will also train more than 1,500 teachers in pedagogy, psychosocial support and risk reduction. 

This broader work strengthens school meals and refugee education by combining food assistance with improved classroom support. This is important, since Chad not only needs more students attending school, but it also requires schools that can handle displacement and overcrowding. UNICEF says eastern Chad still needs about 5,000 temporary learning spaces and 10,000 latrines to meet minimum standards.

A Positive Path Forward

These efforts are particularly important for girls. In its 2024–2028 Chad country strategic plan, WFP said that increasing home-grown school feeding can help improve nutrition and health while also keeping girls in school. UNICEF’s report on eastern Chad states that without enough education support, 70,000 children, including refugees, returnees and those from host communities, could miss school days or drop out. 

This raises the risk of child labor and child marriage. In this situation, school meals do more than tackle hunger. They help safeguard children’s futures.

Closing Remarks

School meals and refugee education in Chad are deeply connected. Food support helps children show up in class and stay enrolled, while new education funding helps schools respond to crises more effectively. Despite this, Chad still faces a major gap. 

However, active programs from WFP, UNICEF and Education Cannot Wait show that investments can keep more children in school. If those efforts continue to expand, they could strengthen educational access and long-term resilience for families across the country.

– Ashirah Newton 

Ashirah is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Between Borders: The Calais Refugee Camps

Calais Refugee CampsThe French refugee crisis erupted over a decade ago. However, the reality is that France, and Calais especially, is still receiving hundreds of refugee arrivals, and these asylum seekers are still in need of help. There have been people living in or around the outskirts of Calais since the 1990s, the number of whom caused the Red Cross to open the first official welcome center in a neighboring town in 1999. Despite its closure after three years, informal settlements never went away.

These makeshift Calais refugee camps became known as the Jungle, which was formed by hundreds of discarded tents and shelters to accommodate displaced victims of conflict and poverty. This too was evacuated by the French authorities in 2009. When the refugee crisis intensified in 2015, another Jungle emerged, and by the end of the year, there were approximately 4,500 refugees living in Calais. Currently, this figure stands at an estimated 1o,000. The situation is improving, but the work is not yet done.

A Short History of the Jungle

The Calais refugee camps have a turbulent history, being flooded with arrivals, then being bulldozed and evacuated, before re-emerging. Starting as a government-controlled space, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and charities became increasingly involved, such as Refugee Rights. The NGO Help Refugees conducted a census in February 2016, which found that the Calais refugee camps were home to 5,497 residents, including 651 children, more than 400 of whom were unaccompanied. By November of the same year, violence had broken out within the camps as refugees began to be evicted.

In October 2018, two years after the demolition of the Jungle, Refugee Rights returned to Calais to examine the condition and status quo of the refugees, finding that mental health had declined and the atmosphere was one of exhaustion, despite the sustained efforts of volunteers.

There have been studies and reports, such as a 2018 Cambridge Review of International Affairs study, investigating the balance of governmental and charity-based involvement in handling the ongoing refugee crisis. Such reports ask whether the government should be doing more, such as taking on sole responsibility for search and rescue (SAR) operations. Data and field research from organizations like Refugee Rights demonstrate that something needs to change.

An Inside Perspective

This cycle has replayed multiple times over the last 10 years in the camps of Calais. To better understand how this repetition can be ended and the status quo for refugees can be altered, The Borgen Project interviewed an individual who worked at the Calais refugee camps from 2023 to 2024.

The Borgen Project’s source, who wishes to remain anonymous for professional reasons, worked both in the Calais refugee camps and in the U.K. with an involved charity. For the purposes of anonymity, this individual is referred to as W.

W described the atmosphere of the camps: “The sense of desperation is palpable and grew with the increasing hostility of the political environment even in the short time I spent there. During my stay in the winter, the weather conditions were brutal, promising frostbite, trench foot and many sleepless nights in the freezing cold.” W added that during the time spent volunteering in Calais, five people lost their lives at the border.

However, W continued: “In stark contrast to all the misery in Calais is so much hope and here, hope is more than just a feeling, it is a survival skill. I was struck repeatedly by the resilience and positivity of the communities I met and even on the worst days, there were beautiful moments. A South Sudanese dance party. An Arabic lesson in exchange for an English one. The offer of breakfast around a camping stove.”

There is often a focus on the desperation of refugee situations, but less so on hope and joy. Having an insight into the glimpses of community and happiness is not a reduction of the struggle of displacement, but evidence of the effect charitable aid can have on people’s lives, be that food, shelter, legal advice or companionship. This is exactly the work Red Cross provides to the Calais camps, with a project that functions across three main services: supporting unaccompanied children, providing health care and reuniting families.

The Language of Asylum

Language has become a weighted topic in today’s climate, with extensive debates over connotations, etymology and underlying meanings. The language surrounding refugees and the Calais refugee camps has been scrutinized over time. When asked about the term “Jungle,” W stated: “The term ‘Jungle’ was used by its inhabitants, voluntary workers and media alike, but during my time there, very few people used the term.” W added: “Although we now refer to them as ‘camps,’ there are no official camps in Calais or Dunkirk, only unauthorized, illegal settlements.”

As recently as 2020, videos and photos have been released of capsized boats carrying refugees to Europe’s shores, prompting dismissive responses from some audiences. Despite language becoming more carefully considered in public discourse, there is still a pervasive sense of indignation toward refugees seeking shelter and protection from conflict in their home countries.

Female Refugees in Calais

In 2019, the number of displaced people worldwide was estimated at 79.5 million, and in the same year, the number of refugees in the EU was 6,570,500. Almost 50% of them were women. Rates of underage or forced marriage and sex trafficking rise in times of conflict and poverty, making women one of the most vulnerable demographics. This is supported by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognizes that girls and women are disproportionately affected by armed conflicts. According to U.N. data, at least one in five female refugees or displaced women has experienced sexual violence. A World Health Organization (WHO) report acknowledges the same, but does not account for undocumented immigrants, thus underestimating the magnitude of the issue.

When asked about women’s experience, W answered: “There are relatively few female refugees in Calais. The vast majority were men and many were unaccompanied minors aged 13-17, often risking their lives on the dangerous journeys in hopes of providing their families with a safer route. For example, Libya is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for sex trafficking, so for refugees coming to Europe from countries like Sudan and Eritrea, it is rare for men to bring their wives and children with them. Nonetheless, there is a small presence of women and children.”

The gender imbalance in Calais demonstrates the persistent demand for more representation and female-directed aid in these situations.

A Look Toward the Future

The Calais refugee camps are not a thing of the past, and though media representation may have dwindled, charitable aid persists. Care4Calais works both in the camps and in the U.K. to offer field support and organize food, clothing and supply packages to refugees, visiting sites twice a week to deliver direct aid, charge phones and bring hot tea, food and firewood, as well as engaging in social activities with them.

According to W, companionship plays an important role in supporting the refugees in Calais. W shared that communication often happened without words due to language barriers: “One day, I played Connect 4 with a Sudanese man for hours. We didn’t exchange more than a handful of words, but it was nonetheless a mutually meaningful experience.”

Another NGO, Safe Passage, has been present in Calais since 2016, providing legal aid to help ensure stable futures for refugees. Since its establishment, Safe Passage has protected 3,500 children and reconnected them with their families, granted 260 visas, overturned five anti-refugee policies and trained more than 260 individuals to continue legal advising for future refugees.

With the dedication and support of NGOs in collaboration with governments, places like the Calais refugee camps can become better-supported spaces for displaced people. Organizations such as Red Cross, Care4Calais and Safe Passage continue to demonstrate that sustained charitable and legal support makes a measurable difference in the lives of those who have fled conflict and poverty.

– Jaya Noonan

Jaya Noonan is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash