In all, more than 1 million Somalis have been displaced inside their country by drought and terrorism. Many are living in makeshift shelters in crowded conditions that are ripe for the spread of disease. And the violence that has gripped Somalia for decades has seriously weakened the country’s health care system, making it difficult for people to get medical attention. 

Over 65 million people worldwide are currently displaced by conflict and natural disaster, the biggest upheaval of humanity since World War II. Now more than ever, the humanitarian imperative is clear. World Humanitarian Day is a chance to honour those who work on the frontlines of this global crisis, providing lifesaving services to the most vulnerable, often at considerable personal risk.

Seventy years ago, 145 countries signed the 1951 Refugee Convention in the wake of World War II, when the displacement of millions of people across Europe shed light on the need for humanitarian protections for those forced to flee violence and persecution. Since 1951, 50 million people have been protected under the Convention’s umbrella. Yet, today, the consensus that forged the Convention and the international cooperation that underpins it are being increasingly undermined.

Throughout the Syrian conflict, children’s education has been disrupted by displacement and insecurity. Now, an IRC survey of about 3,000 school children at five schools in northern Syria indicates that Syrian children’s maths and literacy skills are falling far behind pre-war levels.

Recommendations for a first step towards an ambitious, humanitarian and sustainable EU response to displacement