The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) identified Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2024, citing a critical convergence of insufficient humanitarian funding, minimal media attention, and a profound lack of international political will. The report, released this week in Oslo, highlights how millions of people in these nations face escalating violence and food insecurity while remaining largely absent from the global diplomatic and news agenda.
The Criteria of Neglect
The NRC’s annual analysis evaluates crises based on three distinct pillars: the shortfall in humanitarian funding, the absence of international media coverage, and a lack of political or diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the conflicts. By quantifying these metrics, the organization aims to draw attention to populations that are systematically overlooked by global powers.
For Sudan, the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has triggered one of the largest displacement crises in modern history. Despite the scale of the emergency, humanitarian appeals remain severely underfunded, leaving aid agencies struggling to provide basic life-saving supplies to millions of internally displaced persons.
Deepening Instability in the DRC
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, decades of recurring conflict have created a state of permanent instability for millions of civilians. The NRC noted that while the DRC frequently appears in headlines due to specific spikes in violence, it remains a
