Dear Reader,
Each year on 20 June, the world celebrates World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations to honour the strength and courage of people around the world who have been forced to leave their country due to conflict or persecution. Nevertheless, these people form some of the most vulnerable communities in the world, especially the children.
In the first half of this year, the global refugee problem has deteriorated. The earthquake that struck the Türkiye-Syria border in February has made life even more miserable for families who have already been suffering for years because of the war in Syria. In response, World Vision has been providing assistance across Türkiye and Northwest Syria for vulnerable children and families affected by war and the earthquake, helping them overcome the difficult times.
In mid-April, an armed conflict broke out in Sudan. The UN estimates that as many as 800,000 refugees have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad and Central African Republic, which have already been embroiled in conflict, food insecurity and refugee crisis. Hence, the influx of a new wave of refugees is bound to increase the humanitarian needs in these countries. World Vision will respond to the needs of the refugees in the four countries and offer various forms of assistance, including food, water, sanitation and hygiene, and child protection support.
We understand that conflicts are constantly unfolding in different parts of the world, and with sudden disasters and the embedded poverty, the refugee problem has become more complex, something that cannot be solved in the short term. Therefore, besides providing emergency assistance, we have also been encouraging everyone to be a part of Childhood Rescue since last year to offer continued support to vulnerable refugee families, so that children in need will not be forgotten.
On a separate note, World Vision Hong Kong’s 2022 Annual Report has already been published. In order to better communicate the impact of our work, the annual report has been given a major revamp this time. We have enhanced the presentation of the figures to give readers a better idea of how and where the funds are used. We have also included some of the highlights from each programme for you to understand the needs of poor and vulnerable children in different contexts, as well as how World Vision adapts its programmes to bring about major changes for children and families through these programmes, in terms of sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, education, health care and livelihoods.
Please do read the full report and provide us with feedback and opinions to make our reporting even better.
Yours truly,
Amy Fung
Chief Executive Officer
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40