Ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20, Survey of 3,494 Households Across 8 Countries Reveals 56% Face Food Insecurity, 22% Report Child Labor – Highlighting Critical Need for Self-Reliance Support

Ahead of World Refugee Day (June 20), World Vision (WV), an international NGO supporting children worldwide, has released a joint survey report titled 'IN THE SHADOW OF HUNGER' with the World Food Programme (WFP). The report covers 3,494 households—including refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities—across eight countries severely affected by hunger: Bangladesh, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Myanmar, South Sudan, and Uganda.

'IN THE SHADOW OF HUNGER' Report (in English)

The report reveals that reductions in humanitarian and food aid have intensified food insecurity, increasing risks of child labor, school dropouts, and child marriage—threatening children’s rights.

It also examines how household 'self-reliance'—the ability to meet basic needs—affects family and child well-being.

PDF version here

Web version here

Children Paying the Price of Reduced Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian funding in the second half of 2025 is down 40% compared to previous years, leaving over 72% of global humanitarian needs unmet. According to WFP, around 318 million people across 68 countries face acute food insecurity. The burden falls hardest on the most vulnerable—children.

Refugee households are 1.7 times more likely to face food insecurity than other households. Forty percent of families reported eating only one meal—or no meal at all—the day before the survey.

Over 64% of surveyed households rely on aid to meet basic needs. By 2026, over 200 million children are projected to require humanitarian assistance.

The survey revealed the following realities:

Among surveyed households:

- 56% experienced food insecurity - 22% reported child labor - 21% attend school irregularly - 11% experienced family separation - 8% reported child marriage

"Sometimes we only eat once a day… If our parents can’t find work, life gets even harder for our family." — A child in Colombia

"We are doing everything we can to survive. But the first barrier to self-reliance is the lack of jobs. As long as we cannot meet basic needs like food, water, and healthcare, it’s hard to even talk about self-reliance." — A mother in Chad

A mother of three living in a refugee camp in Sudan continues to advocate for her children’s right to education despite immense hardship.

Household Self-Reliance Protects Children

The survey found that higher levels of household self-reliance correlate with significantly lower risks for children.

Self-reliance enables families to meet basic needs—food, water, shelter, safety, education—with dignity, stability, and hope for the future, supporting children’s well-being and healthy development. In nearly every country surveyed, higher self-reliance was linked to a substantial reduction in risks to children.

As household self-reliance increases:

- Begging decreases by 56% - School dropouts due to work decrease by 38% - Child marriage decreases by 33% - Family separation decreases by 31%

Surveyed households also emphasized that self-reliance requires access to the right to work, freedom of movement, income-generating opportunities, and skills development.

Amanda Livesey, World Vision’s Director of Humanitarian Policy, Advocacy, and Partnerships, stated:

"Long-term efforts to support self-reliance alongside emergency aid are urgently needed."

"Decisive action with adequate funding, matching the scale of this crisis, is essential. Governments and aid agencies must provide urgent and flexible support so that children and their families can not only survive but regain stability and hope for the future."

Rohingya refugee girls in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, say they avoid going out alone due to risks such as abduction.

Field Reports from World Vision Japan Staff

- Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya (Hirai Staff)

"This month, I visited Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and spoke directly with refugees.

Nancy, the eldest of 11 siblings, shared that the food aid received every other month runs out quickly, and she relies on neighbors to survive. The sharp decline in international aid funding is creating a life-or-death crisis for the most vulnerable. At the same time, I met Peter, who strongly said, ‘I want to become self-reliant and leave the camp. I want opportunities for vocational training.’"

Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya hosts about 300,000 refugees and displaced people, many of whom have lived in displacement for over a decade.

"It is also our vital role to support people with the will and ability to become self-reliant—through vocational training and livelihood support. On the ground, I reaffirmed that turning both wheels—emergency aid and self-reliance promotion—will lead to a future where all refugees can live with dignity."

- School Feeding Program in Burundi (Nomoto Staff)

"Through a joint initiative with WFP, WV is building a sustainable model to produce and deliver school meals locally. While not directly targeting refugees, this program supports local children and communities in Burundi, which continues to receive refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We believe supporting local populations first leads to long-term stability for the entire region, including refugees.

Instead of temporary food distribution, local farmers receive training to improve productivity, and the food they grow becomes school meals—creating a sustainable system that also generates income for farmers."

462 schools—93% of targeted schools—now serve meals made from locally produced food, beginning to graduate from food aid. School enrollment has also increased due to the meals.

"I’ll never forget the proud faces of local farmers and the joyful smiles of children eating their meals. I hope this cycle of ‘self-reliance,’ where communities support their children’s futures with their own strength, continues to grow."

Video: World Vision World Refugee Day 2026 (in English)

About World Vision Japan

World Vision Japan is the Japanese office of World Vision, an international NGO operating in about 100 countries and officially registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Guided by Christian principles, it supports children facing hardship due to poverty, conflict, and natural disasters. Learn more here