As humanitarian funding shrinks and global displacement continues to rise, the international community is being urged to rethink its response to refugee crises. Rather than focusing solely on border security and short-term aid, new strategies are highlighting the benefits of integrating refugees into host societies.

At a recent high-level meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York, global leaders, including refugee experts and country representatives, called for more inclusive, long-term policies that serve both refugees and the communities that receive them.

A Crisis Growing in Complexity

In 2024, over 122 million people were forcibly displaced by war, climate change, hunger, and poverty. Most of them—around 70%—now reside in low- and middle-income countries, according to ECOSOC President Bob Rae.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi emphasized that the current global focus on border control often comes at the expense of human rights, and urged for a shift in priorities.

“Inclusion means more than safety. It means access to healthcare, education, job opportunities, and documentation—tools that allow refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities,” said Grandi.

Examples of Inclusive Refugee Policies

Two countries—Colombia and Mauritania—shared real-world success stories on how empowering refugees has benefited their nations.

Colombia: Legal Protections and Integration for Venezuelans

In 2021, Colombia introduced a Temporary Protection Status (TPS) program for Venezuelan refugees. This initiative gave 2.5 million Venezuelans legal documentation, allowing access to:

• Public healthcare and education
• Legal employment
• Social services

Not only has TPS restored dignity and stability for refugees, but it has also helped Colombia better manage refugee flows, boosting both social integration and national security.

Mauritania: Embracing Refugees as Contributors

For more than a decade, Mauritania has welcomed refugees from Mali, upholding their rights to work, study, and access healthcare. The government treats refugees as equal partners in development, supporting both refugee and host communities through:

• Investments in education and livelihoods
• Enhanced social cohesion efforts
• Local development initiatives that benefit all

A New Approach to Forced Displacement

Speakers at the ECOSOC event stressed that refugee integration should be seen as an opportunity—not a burden. While financial aid remains vital, the focus must now shift to building resilient communities that empower displaced people to contribute economically, socially, and culturally.

“We can no longer afford to separate refugee protection from development,” said ECOSOC President Rae. “By investing in both, we build stronger, more inclusive societies.”

In the heart of Mexico City, a centuries-old agricultural tradition is fighting for survival. The chinamperos of Xochimilco, farmers who cultivate crops on floating gardens called chinampas, have been sustaining the city for generations. But today, urban sprawl, environmental degradation, and climate change are threatening their ancestral way of life.

Ahead of the release of the 2025 Interconnected Disaster Risks report, a team from the United Nations University visited Xochimilco to hear firsthand how the chinamperos are working to preserve their heritage.

A Rich Agricultural Legacy

The practice of creating chinampas dates back to the Aztecs, who ingeniously layered mud, plants, and branches over shallow lake beds to form fertile floating islands. This system created a unique and sustainable method of farming, resulting in a sprawling network of nearly 180 kilometers of canals and gardens.

“I was born and raised in Xochimilco,” says Lauro Rivera, a 72-year-old beekeeper. “This place exists because of the hard work of our ancestors. They built the chinampas and anchored them with trees like the ahuejote. Their efforts still shape the land today.”

Modern Challenges for Ancient Traditions

While the chinampas once teemed with freshwater clams, fish, turtles, and axolotls, pollution and water scarcity have taken a toll.

“There were even freshwater clams here,” recalls Samuel Luna, a 67-year-old vegetable farmer. “Now we are trying to return to more eco-friendly farming methods with fewer pesticides. Maybe we can’t bring everything back, but we can preserve what remains.”

Today’s chinamperos, like Samuel’s grandson Eric Enríquez, are determined to continue the tradition, even as climate change makes farming unpredictable.

“You no longer know when it will rain or when it will be cold,” Eric explains. “Technology offers solutions, but not everyone can afford the necessary tools. Farming the chinampas is hard, beautiful work—and we can’t let it disappear.”

Preserving a Way of Life

The chinampa tradition is not only about food production but also about cultural identity. Mariana Cruz, a 29-year-old historian, highlights the vital role women have played in this heritage.

“My great-grandmother farmed the chinampas. She and many women worked alongside men to build this community,” Mariana shares. “There’s a stereotype that farming equals poverty, but we are proud to come from chinamperos. Their work is as vital as that of any doctor.”

She believes education is key to preserving Xochimilco’s importance, teaching others why protecting its canals, water systems, and agricultural legacy matters not just for locals but for the entire city’s future.

A Future in the Balance

The chinamperos stand at a crossroads. Without significant efforts to protect the environment, revitalize traditional farming, and attract new generations to agriculture, a vital part of Mexico City’s cultural and ecological heritage could vanish.

Their story is a reminder that sustainability, resilience, and respect for ancestral knowledge are critical—not just for the chinamperos, but for all communities facing the growing impacts of climate change.

As Sudan’s brutal civil war enters its third year, the number of children requiring urgent humanitarian support has doubled to 15 million, according to a new warning from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This alarming figure underscores the intensifying humanitarian catastrophe in what is now the world’s largest child displacement crisis.

Rising Humanitarian Needs Amid Ongoing Conflict

Since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), violence, disease, and displacement have surged. With the rainy season approaching in May, UNICEF warns that delivering aid will become even more difficult, especially for children already suffering from malnutrition, disease, and trauma.

“With the rainy season around the corner, children who are already reeling from malnutrition and disease will be harder to reach,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We must act now.”

Key Figures and Trends

• 15 million children need humanitarian assistance (up from 7.8 million in 2023).
• 30 million people in total require aid in Sudan this year.
• 12.4 million displaced, including millions of children, nearly a third under the age of five.
• 90% of children are currently out of school.
• Famine confirmed in 10 areas, with more at risk.
• Over 49,000 cholera and 11,000 dengue fever cases reported last year, mostly impacting children and mothers.
• Grave violations against children—including killings, abductions, and attacks on schools and hospitals—have increased tenfold and now span more than half of Sudan’s 18 states.

UNICEF’s Appeal and Response

UNICEF is urgently calling for $1 billion to fund its operations in Sudan for 2025. That’s just 26 cents per day per person, yet only $266.6 million is currently available—most of which was carried over from 2024. A mere $12 million in new funding has been received this year.

Despite these constraints, UNICEF’s 2024 impact included:

• Supporting 2.7 million children and caregivers with psychosocial, educational, and protection services.
• Providing safe drinking water to nearly 10 million people.
• Screening 6.7 million children for malnutrition and treating 422,000 with lifesaving support.

Access Barriers and Bureaucratic Delays

Conflict intensity, bureaucratic impediments, and access restrictions imposed by both government forces and armed groups have severely hampered aid delivery. With worsening security and limited humanitarian corridors, many vulnerable populations remain beyond reach.

A Plea for Global Solidarity

UNICEF is urging the international community to act swiftly and decisively:

“Sudan is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world today, but it is not getting the world’s attention,” said Russell.
“We cannot abandon the children of Sudan. We have the expertise and the resolve to scale up our support, but we need access and sustained funding. Most of all, children in Sudan need this horrific conflict to end.”

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Haiti is in freefall as gangs tighten their grip on the capital, violence spreads, and the country teeters on the edge of collapse, according to William O’Neill, the UN-designated human rights expert on Haiti.

After his fourth visit to assess conditions, O’Neill briefed journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, painting a dire picture of suffering and despair.

“I hate to sound like a broken record,” he admitted, “but the situation is more dire each time I go.”

Gangs Expand Control Amid Lawlessness

Despite the efforts of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, gang rule is expanding beyond Port-au-Prince, threatening to engulf the entire country.

✔ Gangs kill, rape, and terrorize communities with impunity.
✔ Homes are set on fire, and entire neighborhoods are forced to flee.
✔ Powerful actors may be complicit in enabling gang operations.

“These violent criminal groups infiltrate all spheres of society,” O’Neill warned, raising concerns over corruption at the highest levels.

Harrowing Testimonies: Haiti’s Children at the Center of Crisis

O’Neill shared firsthand testimonies from survivors, including children who have endured unimaginable horrors.

A 16-year-old girl, raped and orphaned by gang violence:
“Seven masked gunmen broke into my home in Kenscoff, raped and beat me and my stepmother. Then they killed my father in front of me.”

Despite her trauma, she still dreams of becoming a psychologist for young survivors. However, resources for victims remain severely inadequate.

A 12-year-old boy, forced into a gang, now in prison:
“I don’t want any more bandits in my country. Later, I’ll be a pilot.”

His words underscore the urgent need for reintegration programs to save children trapped in Haiti’s cycle of violence.

Over a Million Haitians Displaced with Nowhere to Go

Haiti’s crisis has displaced more than a million people, with thousands more fleeing in recent weeks.
IDP camps are overcrowded, with sexual violence and hunger rampant.
Community tensions are rising, as even students have attacked displaced families seeking shelter.

“The desperate are turning against the more desperate,” O’Neill said, describing a nation breaking under the weight of suffering.

A Call for Urgent Action: ‘Haiti’s Survival Is at Stake’

✔ Political unity and solidarity must drive immediate action.
✔ Fighting corruption and impunity is critical to dismantling gangs.
✔ Responses to gang violence must respect human rights, including the right to life.

“There is not a day to lose. There is no alternative,” O’Neill declared.
“Haiti’s survival is at stake.”

What’s Next?

The UN, regional allies, and international organizations must step up efforts to:
✔ Provide security and humanitarian aid to displaced populations.
✔ Strengthen law enforcement and justice to combat criminal networks.
✔ Invest in rebuilding communities and supporting survivors.

Haiti stands at a breaking point, and the world cannot afford inaction.