As humanitarian needs continue to rise and global funding declines, children in displacement-affected communities are facing growing risks of hunger, family separation, child labor, interrupted education, and exploitation. Conducted in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), this multi-country study examines the impact of food insecurity and funding cuts on children and families across eight hunger hotspots: Bangladesh, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Drawing on 3,494 household surveys, 32 focus group discussions, and 45 key informant interviews, the research finds alarming levels of food insecurity, with more than half of surveyed households experiencing severe hunger. The study also reveals a strong relationship between reductions in humanitarian assistance and negative outcomes for children, including increased rates of school withdrawal, child labor, begging, family separation, and exposure to violence.
At the same time, the findings identify self-reliance — the ability of households to sustainably meet their basic needs — as a powerful protective factor. Higher levels of self-reliance were associated with significantly lower risks of harmful coping strategies and improved outcomes across food security, education, protection, and well-being. The report argues that while emergency assistance remains essential, strengthening self-reliance must become a central pillar of humanitarian and development responses, helping vulnerable families withstand shocks, preserve dignity, and create a more hopeful future for children.
The full report was released ahead of World Refugee Day 2026. Watch the video below for highlights from the study.
