Sudan Tops List of the World’s Most Neglected Crises

Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Colombia have topped the list of the world’s most “neglected” crises, according to the annual ranking released by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The organization attributed this situation to the growing rise of nationalism and increased military spending in wealthy nations.

In a statement, the NRC noted that Sudan is home to more than 9 million internally displaced people, while another 4 million Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries. Approximately 19.5 million people in the country are suffering from hunger.

Since 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a bloody conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of more than 11 million others. The United Nations has described the situation as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The statement quoted NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland as saying: “It is unreasonable that a displacement crisis of this magnitude—comparable to the peak crises in Syria and Ukraine—continues to worsen while receiving so little attention.”

The NRC’s ranking is based on three key criteria: the level of humanitarian funding, media coverage, and the political will demonstrated by the international community.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo secured a place on the list for the tenth consecutive year. In 2025, only 27.4 percent of the funding required for the country was secured, leaving more than 21 million people in urgent need of assistance, according to the NRC.

The list is followed by Colombia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Honduras, Ecuador, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Mozambique.

Speaking to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), Egeland explained that wealthy nations have become increasingly inward-looking and nationalistic. “Rearmament has become a top priority because we must ensure our security in Europe. There is Putin, who is perceived as a threat, and so on,” he said.

He added: “But we forget that there will be epidemics, migration movements, and tremendous loss of life if we fail to invest in hope in other continents. Africa lies just across the Mediterranean Sea, where many of us spend our holidays. If the continent collapses, we will also face the consequences.”