Donate to help refugees
Around the world, there are millions of people who have been forced to leave their homes and their lives behind them, due to conflict, persecution and violence. 47 million of them are children, and 2 million of them were born as refugees.
Find out about the world's refugee crisis, what ActionAid is doing to take action, and how you can support us to help refugees around the world.
What is the refugee crisis, and what's causing it?
There are more than 117 million forcibly displaced people in the world today, who have been forced from their homes due to conflict, persecution, human rights abuses and humanitarian disasters.
73% of them come from just five countries - Afghanistan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela, Ukraine and South Sudan.
Many of them now live dangerous and precarious lives, and the risk to women and girls is particularly acute, from rape, trafficking, abuse, child marriage, and an increased likelihood they'll lose their incomes and livelihoods.
That's why ActionAid works closely with women, girls and their local communities to provide life-saving support, rebuild communities, and strengthen their resilience against future crises. But we urgently need your help to reach as many people as possible.
73 %
of refugees come from just five countries
47 million
refugees (40%) are children
39 %
of refugees are hosted in just five countries: Colombia, Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, and Türkiye1
What ActionAid does to help refugees and displaced people
We support refugees and displaced people in the immediate aftermath of a humanitarian crisis - and also in the long term, so they can rebuild their lives.
In the short term we provide humanitarian aid including food, safe drinking water, shelter and hygiene kits containing clean underwear, soap, menstrual products and other essentials.
In displacement and refugee camps we set up safe spaces for women where they can breastfeed in private, seek counselling and access emotional support. We also provide services to monitor and prevent violence against women, and provide direct cash transfers that empower women to buy what they need the most.
In the long term, we help to rebuild communities and strengthen their resilience. For example, we run training sessions for women to learn leadership skills and disaster preparedness, so they're better equipped to lead their communities in times of crises.
Crisis in Gaza
Since the recent Gaza crisis began on 7th October 2023, millions of Palestinian people have been forced from their homes.
Thousands of people have already lost their lives, while the majority of the population now faces food insecurity and are reliant on humanitarian aid to survive.
Since the Israeli military's ground invasion in Rafah, many people have been displaced for a second time or more.
Millions of people in Gaza have been left in urgent need of food, clean water, medicine, shelter and fuel. Most are women and children.
ActionAid has been working with local partner agencies in Gaza, and so far we've reached hundreds of thousands of people with vital supplies. We've also been working to protect women at risk of gender-based violence, and carry out wellbeing activities for children who've been through unimaginable trauma.
A woman searches the rubble for belongings in the aftermath of a bombing in Gaza City.
AIN Media/ActionAid
Refugees at the Zosin crossing point on the Polish-Ukraine border, where ActionAid partners PAH (Polish Humanitarian Action) provide support.
Simona Supino/ActionAid
Conflict in Ukraine
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people have fled their homes to escape heavy fighting and bombings. Over six million people have escaped the country, while more than three million are displaced within Ukraine.
It's estimated that over 14.6 million people in Ukraine are still in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, the majority of refugees fleeing the conflict are women and children, who face a heightened risk of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking and abuse.
Since the outbreak of the war, ActionAid has been working with local partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, distributing food, hygiene items and services to prevent exploitation and gender-based violence.
As the crisis develops, our partners are providing ongoing care to thousands of people - many of whom have faced severe trauma. This includes mental health and counselling support, housing, legal advice, care packages, cash support, food and healthcare.
Footnotes
- 1https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/
Page updated 25 July 2024