During Refugee Week, we are reminded of the extraordinary courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes. We reflect on and acknowledge the immense contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees, celebrating how compassion and collective action can transform lives.
No one chooses to be a refugee
Right now, around the world, someone is forced from their home every two seconds. That's 30 people every minute. They are families who have had their lives upended by conflict, persecution or disaster. Behind every statistic is a person facing a crisis far beyond their control and a network of people working tirelessly to support them.
Half of the world’s refugees are children and thousands flee without the protection of parents or other family members. People who are already vulnerable - including women, children, the elderly or disabled people - are the ones who face the greatest hardship when they leave their homes. Forced to leave behind jobs, personal belongings and loved ones, they urgently need shelter, food and water to survive.
Your support can be a lifeline
Through our Every Second Counts emergency response initiative, CAFOD is working with local partners to reach people before, during and after a crisis. From the devastating wars in Gaza, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the longstanding crises in Afghanistan and Colombia, we are supporting people forced to flee. In Sudan, the escalating conflict has meant that 8 million people have been driven from their homes into refugee camps, where they are vulnerable to the spread of diseases and many are dying due to lack of food.
Refugee support in South Sudan
In South Sudan, many internally displaced families - like that of Paska Adye Savan – struggle to access food. Our partners have responded with cash vouchers which restores dignity and autonomy by allowing people to buy what they need to survive.
Download: South Sudan Projects in Focus
But there are so many more families who are still facing the loss of their homes, their livelihoods and their capacity to look to a future full of hope. Your gift today can mean the difference between despair and hope. Between hunger and nourishment. Between uncertainty and safety.
Together, we can show that love is powerful, and that in times of crisis, we choose compassion.
With your support today we can help communities, especially women and girls, survive crisis and displacement.
For more information please email Roisin at ESC@cafod.org.uk or call 020 7095 5676.