Africa’s Overlooked Emergencies: Why the World Keeps Looking Away

Despite housing some of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies, African nations continue to be overlooked by the global community, according to a 2024 report by the Norwegian Refugee Council. African nations made up eight of the 10 most invisible countries out of the 34 analyzed. These crises, driven by conflict, climate disasters, and political instability, receive minimal media coverage and even less donor funding—falling short by $25 billion in humanitarian aid this year. Cameroon alone hosts over 1.5 million displaced people, yet it garners little attention. Other overlooked African nations include Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Uganda. Shrinking aid budgets and nationalism in donor countries, along with a lack of political will—both globally and within Africa—further compound the neglect. With major cuts from the US and Europe, and minimal African Union engagement, 2025 could prove even more devastating for these countries unless urgent action is taken.

Aljazeera