Sixty million people are fleeing their homes, two-thirds within their own countries and the rest crossing borders to seek refuge. While the world has never been more generous in responding, offering $28 billion in 2015, the $15 billion gap between humanitarian needs and available financing has never been so wide. We need better aid to make the greatest impact with scarce resources and overcome the challenges of modern displacement.

This story belongs to Chantal Rutonda Nyamuco, one of more than 500,000 displaced Congolese who have fled the violence that has swept over their country. Chantal, now 29 years old, still does not know what became of her family.

Syrian refugees have lived through almost 10 years of displacement, a situation which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. At this uncertain juncture, with economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever there is a critical need for supporting livelihoods and enhancing prospects for durable solutions in both Jordan and Lebanon.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee crisis of our time. The Syrian war, now entering its eighth year, has displaced more than 11 million Syrians—5.6 million of which have fled in search of a safer and more stable life outside of Syria’s borders. Today, Jordan is home 1.3 million Syrians, including more than 655,000 registered refugees, who are trying to recover and rebuild their lives.

There are 62 million children out of school across the world—children without access to the education and training they need to improve their lives. That number is only increasing as millions of refugees are being forced to return to Afghanistan from Pakistan. These displaced families now must rebuild in a country they haven’t seen in decades—for many children, a country they’ve never known at all.

Along with her five siblings, Aya fled to the Nargazilia camp northwest of the city, where they live with 15,000 displaced people. Twice a week, she escapes her daily routine and spends time with other girls at the International Rescue Committee’s women’s and girls’ centre, a safe, women-only space in the crowded camp.

In Afghanistan, state failure and economic collapse are now the primary drivers of a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding at breakneck speed. Unemployment and poverty are now the greatest drivers of internal displacement. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been providing assistance in Afghanistan for three decades, working today in 11 provinces. We see firsthand that while humanitarian aid saves lives, it cannot replace a functioning economy and state.