Forgotten Crises and Help for People in Need

According to United Nations forecasts, 339 million people worldwide will be in need by the end of 2023, most of them in so-called forgotten crises caused by ongoing civil wars, droughts, floods or the effects of climate change. Major humanitarian emergencies are present in the media, especially when they receive support from professional supporters such as NGOs. However, many crises go unnoticed by the global public or quickly disappear from the media spotlight.

The logic is both tragic and simple: The more media attention a crisis receives, the more monetary aid is mobilized for the affected population overall. Major humanitarian emergencies with a professionally managed media presence regularly make it into the news. A lack of reporting, on the other hand, often leads to inadequate aid for those affected.

The donations will benefit the following projects in Myanmar, Burundi and Mauritania:

The people of Myanmar feel abandoned by the international community. Despite more than two and a half years of conflict and at least 6,337 civilian deaths by September 2022, the United Nations has not taken any comprehensive measures to decisively change the situation. In February 2021, the situation escalated when the military seized power, overthrew the democratically elected government, and cracked down on anyone who appeared to oppose the regime. The ensuing civil disobedience movement led to constant confrontations between the resistance forces and the junta. Reports of bombings, the destruction of villages, brutal massacres of the civilian population and the torture of children characterize the image of the military regime.

In the East African state of Burundi, which borders Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, disease, climate change and, above all, hunger are exacerbating the already precarious situation of the approximately 11 million inhabitants. The economic situation is desolate. While the need for humanitarian aid is increasing worldwide, millions of people lack the basic necessities of life. Political instability further compounds the crisis. The country is one of the poorest in the world.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Mali in 2012, hundreds of thousands of people have fled to other places or to neighboring countries. According to the UN, more than 270,000 people have been displaced within Mali alone, while more than 170,000 refugees have fled to the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. Mauritania harbors the largest number of refugees in remote camps!

Poverty-stricken Mauritania is experiencing an influx of many refugees from other Sahel countries driven by war, terror, and hunger, including refugees from Niger after the coup.

Mauritania is seen by the international community as the anchor of the Sahel and has so far managed to ensure that the various ethnic groups live together peacefully, terrorist groups have not been able to gain a foothold in the country and a social system is producing its first successes. Over 100,000 refugees have so far been accepted by this impoverished country.