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Article by RET External Relations

When war breaks out or disaster strikes, the world pays attention. Headlines fill our feeds. Emergency appeals flood our inboxes. But what happens months—or years—later, when the news cameras move on? For millions of refugees, the crisis doesn’t end. It just becomes invisible.

While emergency response captures global attention, millions remain trapped in limbo for years or even decades, forgotten by all but a handful of dedicated organizations. This article explores the hidden reality of protracted displacement and why our sustained commitment matters now more than ever.

The Growing Phenomenon of Protracted Displacement

The UN Refugee Agency defines a “protracted refugee situation” as one where 25,000 or more refugees have been in exile for five consecutive years or more. Today:

• 78% of all refugees are trapped in these long-term situations
• The average duration of major displacement crises has ballooned to 20+ years
• Entire generations are born and raised in temporary camps that become permanent ghettos

Unlike natural disasters with clear recovery timelines, these human-made crises often have no political solution in sight. The Syrian conflict enters its 14th year. Afghan refugees have fled waves of violence since 1979. Rohingya camps in Bangladesh show no signs of closing.

The Hidden Consequences of Forgotten Crises

The Education Catastrophe

Right now, the majority of the world’s displaced children are missing out on an education. While 91% of children globally attend primary school, only 63% of refugee children do. And the numbers drop sharply as they grow older—just 24% make it to secondary school, and fewer than 5% reach university.

This isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a lost generation of doctors, engineers, teachers, and artists. It’s the quiet erosion of potential—replaced by cycles of poverty, hopelessness, and increased vulnerability to exploitation or extremism. Without long-term support, temporary setbacks become permanent roadblocks.

The Psychological Toll of Permanent Temporariness

Refugees often live in a state of endless waiting—caught between what they fled and what may never come. That sense of “permanent temporariness” is traumatic. Rates of depression and PTSD are three to four times higher among displaced people than the general population. Children growing up in camps often develop institutionalized behaviors, shaped by fences, ration lines, and restrictions on freedom.

Yet as the months pass, mental health services—already scarce in the humanitarian world—disappear almost entirely, leaving families to carry invisible wounds with no support.

Economic Paralysis

Most host countries restrict refugees from working, owning property, or even leaving the camps where they’ve lived for years. This can create a detrimental cycle and even encourage dependency on systems that were not designed to handle an influx of vulnerable individuals.

It can also mean that skilled professionals—nurses, accountants, teachers—are left idle or pushed into low-paying or informal jobs just to survive. Over time, this not only traps families in dependency, but can also fuel resentment among host communities who see rising needs and falling resources.

But when refugees are given the chance to contribute, they do. Again and again, we’ve seen displaced people start businesses, rebuild health systems, and support their communities—if they’re given the opportunity.

Why Your Continued Support Makes the Difference

The world often rallies in the early days of disaster. But the truth is, real recovery happens in the years that follow—and that’s when your steady support makes all the difference.

For children, your donations keep schools open when governments are unable to do so. They also fund catch-up education to help students reintegrate and continue their studies, as well as provide vocational training to young people that leads to real careers.

For families, your consistency means fewer children forced into labor or early marriage, continued access to food and legal assistance, and a path out of crisis.

For communities, your support helps build infrastructure, train refugee healthcare workers, and create micro-enterprises that benefit host and displaced people alike.

The Moral Imperative of Staying

Anyone can show up during an emergency. But it’s what we do after the spotlight fades that defines our values. These protracted crises test our commitment to human dignity at its most fundamental level.

Be Part of the Solution

When you join RET’s community of sustained supporters, you’ll receive:

✓ Firsthand updates from the world’s most forgotten crisis zones
✓ Impact stories from children, families, and communities you’ve helped
✓ Opportunities to directly fund long-term solutions in education, health, and livelihoods

Because staying isn’t easy—but it’s what changes everything.

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