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

Sixty million people are fleeing their homes, two-thirds within their own countries and the rest crossing borders to seek refuge. While the world has never been more generous in responding, offering $28 billion in 2015, the $15 billion gap between humanitarian needs and available financing has never been so wide. We need better aid to make the greatest impact with scarce resources and overcome the challenges of modern displacement.

This story belongs to Chantal Rutonda Nyamuco, one of more than 500,000 displaced Congolese who have fled the violence that has swept over their country. Chantal, now 29 years old, still does not know what became of her family.

Syrian refugees have lived through almost 10 years of displacement, a situation which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. At this uncertain juncture, with economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever there is a critical need for supporting livelihoods and enhancing prospects for durable solutions in both Jordan and Lebanon.