Mafi* holds her newborn daughter as she puts her hand gently on her little tummy. Shortly before fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo, four armed men raped Mafi and she became pregnant. On a hot and humid afternoon two days after giving birth, Mafi recounts her horrific story in front of the small tent of plastic sheeting that she now calls home in Uganda’s Kyangwali refugee settlement. Mafi is one of over 288,000 Congolese who has fled DRC to seek refuge in Uganda. 

They followed me into the forest. I went to get fire wood when the four armed men suddenly attacked me. I screamed at the top of my lungs for help, but no one heard me, no one came. They pushed me to the ground and I immediately knew what their intention was. “Kill me,” I shouted to them, because I would have rather died than being raped by them. They did not listen to me. They took their turns, one after the other, until I fell unconscious from the pain.  

I woke up in the hospital. The nurse told me that villagers found me in the woods, my body covered in blood, and brought me to the main street. Luckily, a police car drove by that moment and brought me to the hospital. The doctors were very nice and kept me there for a few weeks to recover. During the first few days, one of them told me that I was pregnant. My heart skipped a beat and I felt panic rush through my whole body. I remembered how I had lost three of my own children due to sickness, unable to provide for them. I knew I had to keep the baby.  

I felt like I was only person in the world who had nobody. Armed men had killed my family members and burned our house when I was 5 years old. The pastor’s wife in our village took me in and raised me. I got married when I was 15 years old and decided to leave them, not wanting to be a burden anymore. But then rebels also killed my husband and after losing my children I found myself alone once again.  

I had to run. As soon as I was released from the hospital, I realized that I had to flee in order to save my life and that of my unborn child. In my village, I saw how many families walked towards Lake Albert and I decided to join them. I only took the radio along with me from home because I knew I would need it to pay for the boat ride. It took me almost two weeks to get to Uganda. At one of the roadblocks, I met a former friend of my husband. He gave me some water and a little bit of money to survive the journey. About three months ago, I made it to Uganda. 

I was helpless. Having left everything behind, I did not know how to raise my baby without any income and limited amount of assistance. But then I met Esther. She works with CARE and is an angel to me. She asked me questions, listened to my story and gave me hope again. She even took me to the hospital during my pregnancy and brought clothes for my baby after I gave birth to her. I never thought anyone could be so nice to me. There is no way for me to show her my appreciation. But I named my baby after her. Her name is Esther.  

My child is innocent. She is not responsible for the sins of her father. My biggest wish is to be able to provide for her. Although life is better here in Uganda, I still do not know what the future will hold for us. But now, at least I have faith.  

*Name has been changed 

Jane* fled South Sudan for Uganda with her three sisters last year. Armed forces threatened her family and Jane’s parents sent their children away knowing their lives were in danger. It took them five days to reach Uganda’s Imvepi refugee settlement. A few days later, Jane, 17, found out her parents had been killed.

“I miss my parents but I’m glad we left the people with the guns behind,” she says. 

At Imvepi, however, she still is not safe. Her family was connected to government forces in South Sudan, which poses a threat to her and her sisters’ lives. Shortly after their arrival at Imvepi, Jane and her sisters were attacked in the middle of the night in the refugee settlement by a group of about 15 men.

“They shouted that they wanted to kill us and that this would be the last time for us to see the light,” Jane says. “And then they touched us… .”

It was the third time they’d been attacked since arriving. They received little empathy when they told others in the camp about the incident. 

“They told us we should have just let them kill us,” she says.

South Sudan declared independence in 2011. Seven years later, the country is ravaged by fighting, severe hunger, mass displacement, and accusations of war crimes by government and opposition forces. Nearly 4 million people have been forced to flee because of the conflict.

Imvepi currently hosts more than 100,000 refugees, almost three times the number of locals in the area. Of the 1.3 million refugees in Uganda, over 1 million are South Sudanese and over 85 percent are women and children in real danger of sexual and physical violence, with many reporting incidents of violence on their brutal journey.

Upon arrival in the refugee settlements in Uganda, underage children are immediately located and matched with a foster family within two to three days. But many of them decide to leave and fall back under the risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Too often they end up trading sex for money – earning as little as 2,000 Ugandan Shillings (1 USD) per exchange. CARE holds awareness-raising sessions on sexual and reproductive health with unaccompanied minors to highlight the risks and prevent threats of sexual violence.

“We cannot provide survivors of sexual and gender-based violence with support to heal from their trauma, but at the same time be unable to meet their basic needs, forcing them into selling their bodies for survival,” says Delphine Pinault, CARE Uganda’s Country Director.

Jane’s life has changed dramatically since leaving home. As the eldest, she has to take care of her younger sisters. Food usually runs out before they receive their next ration. Every day, she wakes up to pray, prepares breakfast for her sisters and goes to Imvepi’s reception center to help out other refugees fleeing South Sudan. She has not gone back to school. Her trauma and fear of being attacked on the way to school is too great. Eventually, she wants to become an accountant or teacher and move closer to a city to feel safer.

CARE has built a shelter for Jane and her sisters close to the settlement’s police station to help protect her from further attacks. The shelter and the girls’ caretaker, Albert, help Jane and her sisters feel safer. It gives her hope for a better life.

“Only if peace in South Sudan lasts for more than 10 years, I would trust my country to be safe enough to move back,” Jane says. 
*name has been changed 

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Far From Home: The 13 Worst Refugee Crises for Girls

In the heat of the day, Lillian, Scobia and Viola help each other carry large, heavy pieces of wood from a collection point to the temporary shelter they are trying to make into a home at Imvepi refugee settlement in Uganda. They’ve been sharing a latrine with neighbors with no place to shower, so today, they are building their own bathroom on their land. The girls, now 17 years old, are from the same village in South Sudan. Most of the fledgling nation is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis fueled by years of chronic underdevelopment, conflict and natural disasters. The three girls fled to Uganda last year with Viola’s eight-year-old brother, but no adult guardian. 

Viola and her brother were raised by their uncle until he was killed by soldiers on his way home one day. They survived for a few months off of the vegetables in their garden. When they ran out of food, they moved in with Scobia and her grandmother, who were neighbors. Lillian was living with her older sister, after their parents had died. But when her sister got married, she left with her husband, leaving Lillian alone. She also moved in with Scobia.

As the violence in South Sudan worsened, their school stopped operating and the girls became increasingly worried about their safety. 

“I was afraid that if I stayed in South Sudan, we would get killed just like my uncle,” Viola says. “I wanted to come to Uganda to be safe and get an education, so I can one day get a job and continue taking care of my brother.”

Scobia’s grandmother helped the girls pack food and their belongings, and they set off for Uganda on foot. During the journey, they rationed their supplies, not knowing how long they’d need the food to last. They arrived in Uganda after walking for seven days.

“Young girls like these arriving in Uganda alone and fending for themselves are at major risk of violent attacks. They often times arrive already traumatized from violent events that may have occurred on their journey,” says Delphine Pinault, Country Director for CARE Uganda. “With most of the refugees coming from a culture of violence and conflict, it is critical that we work with the entire community, including men and boys, on adopting more caring and supportive behaviors and on resolving conflicts and differences through dialogue rather than the fist.”

Out of the 1.35 million refugees in Uganda, over 700,000 are children under 18, according to UNHCR. Many of those children arrive in Uganda without a parent or guardian. Sometimes a child finds a guardian on the journey to Uganda, or once they arrive in Uganda. Other times a child finds a group of other children and they become each other’s guardians. This is the case with Lillian, Scobia and Viola. These girls have become each other’s family.

“We do everything together. We collect firewood, fetch water and cook together. We also comfort each other when we are sad or remembering what we have lost in South Sudan. We are sisters,” Viola says. 

They need clothes, and more food, and are aware of how important their education is to a positive future. 

"I have to take care of my eight-year-old brother. I want a good education so I can provide for him. One day I hope to become a nurse so I can help my community," Viola says.

“School will help me overcome the challenges I am facing,” Lillian says. “If I have an education, I can get a good job and those challenges will disappear.”

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Two bedsheets and two sets of clothes. That’s all 20-year-old Viola Jackline was able to take with her on her arduous two-week trek by foot from South Sudan to Uganda. Violence in South Sudan drove Viola, her three siblings and their grandmother from their home. They witnessed killings and escaped gunshots. They faced, thirst, hunger, and sexual harassment from armed men before reaching the Ugandan border.  

The bed sheets allowed Viola and her family to sleep in the bush in a dark, camouflaged area. Her grandmother carried two saucepans to cook what little food they had along the way. Now they are trying to build a life in Uganda’s Imvepi refugee settlement, along with more than 100,000 other South Sudanese. 

Among the many challenges faced by girls and women like Viola fleeing crises is access to the education and resources to manage their periods. Like other women and girls in the settlement, it was difficult for Viola to find money to buy pads. At times, she’s been forced to sell her food ration in order to buy a piece of cloth and a robe, which is torn and fitted to hold the cloth and then fastened around her waist. It’s a bulky and uncomfortable way for Viola and others to manage their menstrual cycles, but it’s often their only option.

Periods can make school stressful for female students who are uncomfortable and may not have all the information they need to know what’s going on with their bodies. Boys often tease girls when their uniforms show an outline of a pad or staining and go through their bags looking for menstrual supplies in order to make fun of them. The bullying caused Viola to have low self-esteem, disrupted her focus and isolated her from her schoolmates. One of Viola’s friends, Jenet, dropped out of school after being bullied about a stain on her uniform. 

Last spring, Viola participated in a menstrual cup pilot at the settlement along with 100 other women and girls. The pilot, supported by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), CARE, Oxfam, CERFORD and WoMena, trained the group on menstrual hygiene and the use of Ruby Cups, a healthier, more sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Ruby cups are made from 100-percent soft, medical-grade silicone and are reusable for up to 10 years.

Learning to use the cup was more difficult than she anticipated, and Viola nearly gave up. But with the encouragement of her friends in the program, she stuck with it. She says the cup is much more comfortable than other methods, and because it’s reusable, she won’t have to look for money to buy cloth or pads.

While Viola was confident in using the Ruby Cup, family and neighbors had their doubts. Misperceptions in the community about the cup being a form of birth control or impacting a user’s virginity, among other beliefs, presented a challenge. Men play an important role in decision-making and help shape local perceptions. CARE worked to educate and train a select group of men, known locally as Role Model Men, about menstruation and how to support their wives, sisters, and daughters. Viola had several Role Model Men in her community who helped her family understand the importance of supporting Viola during her cycle and using the Ruby Cup.

Since she started using a menstrual cup, Viola’s noticed a change in her self-esteem and confidence. She now plays football, participates in youth meetings, and can walk long distances and attend class during her period without having to worry. 

“I am comfortable and I have confidence,” she says.

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Geneva/London– The world's poorest countries continue to shoulder the burden of the global refugee crisis, international aid agency CARE International has warned today.

New findings by the UN Refugee Agency’s Global Trends report show that the world’s developing regions are hosting 84 percent of all refugees. According to the UNHCR’s latest figures, Germany is the only European country in a list of the top 10 refugee host nations, meaning some of the poorest countries in the world carry the heavy burden of a growing global refugee crisis.

Caroline Kende-Robb, Secretary General of CARE International, said: “This situation is inherently unsustainable. It’s exposing the millions fleeing war and persecution in countries like Syria, South Sudan, Venezuela, Afghanistan and Iraq to intolerable misery and suffering. 

“We have a small number of poorer countries who have been left to do far too much just because they are neighbors to a crisis. This unequal share is exacerbating the global refugee problem, as inadequate conditions in host countries are pushing many to embark on dangerous journeys while women, girls and other vulnerable people are put at risk to abuse and exploitation. We would like to see the wealthier countries taking more responsibility by increasing financial support to countries that welcome high numbers of refugees; as well as offering safe asylum and resettlement options to vulnerable groups,” she explained.

Data from the Global Trends report shows that the number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million in 2018 - the highest level that the UNHCR has seen in its almost 70 years.  

“I was recently in Jordan – a country that hosts the tenth largest refugee population - and the second largest relative to national population with 72 refugees per 1,000 people. In Jordan, it is clear that enabling refugees’ access to labor markets will not be easy. 

“Like Turkey and Lebanon, which are among the highest refugee-hosting countries in the world, due to the crisis in Syria, Jordan has a weak economy and high unemployment levels. This forces refugees to seek employment informally, increasing the exploitation and the aggravation of refugees’ precarious situations – especially women and girls,” she noted.

CARE International experts have warned that the Syrian refugee crisis could grow exponentially worse following the recent surge in violence.

Michael Fuhrer, CARE’s Managing Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “The Syrian conflict has caused the largest displacement crisis in the world. Hosting 5.4 million Syrian refugees has caused great strain on countries in the region for the past eight years. To tackle the protracted nature of displacement and its consequences on both refugees and hosting countries, we need to think beyond the humanitarian response and support long-term, strategic solutions for Syrian refugees, even though Syria faces an uncertain future.”

Aid agencies and authorities in Uganda - the largest refugee hosting country in Africa- are also facing enormous challenges in maintaining and stabilizing existing services for refugees from neighboring countries faced by conflicts in East Africa.

Delphine Pinault, CARE International Country Director in Uganda, warned that a lack of support for host communities could reduce their willingness to share land and resources and increase tensions between communities. 

She said: "In 2018, only 57 percent of Uganda’s Refugee Response Plan budget was funded. The contributions in 2019 are not even reaching 20 percent of the necessary funds. 

“If the funding does not increase urgently, the consequences could be drastic, with more children out of school due to cuts to education programs. We are also noticing a lack of capacity to prevent communicable diseases such as Ebola; worsening sanitary conditions and adverse impacts on environment. Additionally, we are particularly concerned about the minimized response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence which is exacting a heavy toll on women and children, who account for 83 percent of the refugee population," Pinault explained.

ABOUT CARE 

Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit: www.care.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Vanessa Parra, +1 917-525-0590, vanessa.parra@care.org

WASHINGTON (Aug. 19, 2019)— Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Chris Coons (D-DE) traveled with CARE to see how U.S. investments and partnerships are supporting economic opportunities and improving social conditions for refugees, women and children in the region. In addition to CARE’s president and CEO, Michelle Nunn, the delegation included staffers from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; a former major general of the U.S. Marine Corps; and representatives from Humanity United, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the media.

Uganda, a central-east African landlocked country of immense geopolitical importance, is currently grappling with weak development indicators and a contracting economy with high rates of youth unemployment – a major concern for the stability of the country given nearly 49 percent of the population is presently under the age of 15. Almost one in five Ugandans remain trapped in chronic poverty and a third of all children under five are too short for their age, a symptom of chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. 

Often touted as the most welcoming country in the world to refugees, Uganda has taken in more than 1.2 million refugees from six different countries – mostly women and children – who are in search of safety from regional conflict, political violence and famine. Yet, to maintain stability, international investments must support a refugee response model that is focused on providing comprehensive services, community integration for refugees and investments in sustainable development for host communities. 

From site visits focused on refugee response, to stability-building and empowerment of both refugee populations and the surrounding Ugandan host communities, the delegation learned how international investments are supporting development programs and maintaining peace in a county located in the middle of a volatile conflict that has taken in the 5th largest refugee population in the world. During the trip, the delegation also met with Deborah Ruth Malac, the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, and Ruhakana Rugunda, the Prime Minister of Uganda.   

“Last week, we saw firsthand how U.S. foreign aid is helping to lift families out of poverty, promote stability, and create more resilient and prosperous communities in East Africa – a region of the world that has profound implications for America’s security and global leadership,” said Sen. Coons. “At just one percent of our federal budget, foreign aid is a critical investment that reflects the best of our values and makes the world – and the United States – safer. It must continue to be a priority.”

Throughout the trip, the group explored how U.S. investments in humanitarian assistance, food and nutrition security and women’s empowerment are having a sustainable impact and building a brighter future for families and communities in Uganda and the region. 

“The best way to see the impact of America’s investments abroad is first hand, said Sen. Van Hollen. “Traveling to Uganda provided us the opportunity to meet with local Ugandans, government officials, aid workers, and refugees. Through these encounters, we were able to clearly see the value of America’s leadership in humanitarian aid and the benefits of our strong partnerships with international and non-profit organizations. From providing food and nutrition security, to supporting refugees fleeing violence and oppression, to CARE’s programs empowering women, these efforts save lives, generate goodwill, provide greater stability, and promote American interests in a volatile part of the world. As home to the largest population of refugees in Africa, Uganda has developed a unique model for how to effectively support people fleeing violence in South Sudan and other neighboring countries. As we debate our own refugee policies, it was instructive to learn about the welcoming approach taken by a country with far fewer resources than the United States. Our discussion with the Ugandan Prime Minister and our meetings with our team from the U.S. Embassy were critical reminders of the importance of American efforts to combat extreme poverty, disease, and instability. Our investments not only help relieve suffering, but also support our security interests by promoting greater stability in turbulent areas. We must not retreat from our vital leadership role in the world.”

Participants in CARE’s August 2019 Learning Tour to Uganda included: 

• Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
• Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
• Michael Callesen – Professional Staffer, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Majority Staff)
• Dr. Corey Holmes – Professional Staffer, House Foreign Affairs Committee (Majority Staff)
• Major General Paul Kennedy (ret.)
• Maria Kisumbi – Senior Associate, Policy and Government Relations, Humanity United
• Teresa Krug – Freelance Journalist
• Matthew Nims – Deputy Director, Office of Food for Peace, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Michelle Nunn – President and CEO, CARE USA
• David Ray – Vice President of Advocacy, CARE USA
• Melysa Sperber – Director, Policy & Government Relations, Humanity United

For more information on CARE’s Learning Tours, please visit: www.care.org/LearningTours. 

About CARE:
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. That’s why women and girls are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to confront hunger, ensure nutrition and food security for all, improve education and health, create economic opportunity and respond to emergencies. In 2018, CARE worked in 95 countries and reached more than 56 million people around the world.  

Media Contact: 
Nicole Ellis, +1-202-595-2828, nicole.ellis@care.org 

ATLANTA (February 19, 2020) - The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today unveiled CARE’s PowerUp program as one of the highest-scoring proposals, designated as the Top 100, in its 100&Change competition for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world's most critical social challenges.

Progress toward gender equality remains painfully slow. Worldwide, it’s estimated that one in three women will be sexually or physically abused in her lifetime. CARE’s PowerUp program has the proven potential to change this. After cutting rates of domestic violence in half in Rwanda, CARE’s top-scoring proposal aims to expand PowerUp across Africa’s Great Lakes region – Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda – where women face some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. Experiencing gender-based violence has lifelong consequences and prevents women and girls from reaching their full potential in life.

The Top 100 represent the top 21 percent of competition submissions. The proposals were rigorously vetted, undergoing MacArthur’s initial administrative review, a Peer-to-Peer review, an evaluation by an external panel of judges, and a technical review by specialists whose expertise was matched to the project.

By combining economic empowerment with community and household engagement, CARE’s PowerUp approach drives change at every level of society. Working with world-class partners including the Grameen Foundation, Search for Common Ground and Raising Voices, PowerUp will mobilize CARE’s existing network of two million savings group members across the region and partner networks reaching thousands of communities, if selected as the $100 million winner.

“CARE and our partners have shown that lasting, transformational change is possible,” said Michelle Nunn, President and CEO of CARE. “Significant research has proven that by engaging individuals, households and communities, we can dramatically reduce violence against women and girls. And so, the challenge today is no longer determining what works, but focusing on how to take proven practices to scale. With support from the MacArthur Foundation we hope to do just that.”
 
Each proposal was evaluated using four criteria: impactful, evidence-based, feasible, and durable. MacArthur’s Board of Directors will select up to 10 finalists from among these high-scoring proposals this spring. 
 
“MacArthur seeks to generate increased recognition, exposure, and support for the high-impact ideas designated as the Top 100,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change and MacArthur Managing Director, 100&Change. “Based on our experience in the first round of 100&Change, we know the competition will produce multiple compelling and fundable ideas. We are committed to matching philanthropists with powerful solutions and problem solvers to accelerate social change.” 
 
Since the inaugural competition, other funders and philanthropists have committed an additional $419 million to date to support bold solutions by 100&Change applicants. Building on the success of 100&Change, MacArthur created Lever for Change to unlock significant philanthropic capital by helping donors find and fund vetted, high-impact opportunities through the design and management of customized competitions. In addition to 100&Change, Lever for Change is managing the Chicago Prize, the Economic Opportunity Challenge, and the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award.
 
Bold Solutions Network Launches
 
The Bold Solutions Network launched today, featuring CARE as one of the Top 100 from100&Change. The searchable online collection of submissions contains a project overview, 90-second video, and two-page factsheet for each proposal. Visitors can sort by subject, location, Sustainable Development Goal, or beneficiary population to view proposals based on area of interest.
 
The Bold Solutions Network will showcase the highest-rated proposals that emerge from the competitions Lever for Change manages. Proposals in the Bold Solutions Network undergo extensive evaluation and due diligence to ensure each solution promises real and measurable progress to accelerate social change.  
The Bold Solutions Network was designed to provide an innovative approach to identifying the most effective, enduring solutions aligned with donors’ philanthropic goals and to help top applicants gain visibility and funding from a wide array of funders. Organizations that are part of the network will have continued access to a variety of technical support and learning opportunities focused on strengthening their proposals and increasing the impact of their work. 

More About 100&Change

100&Change is a distinctive competition that is open to organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world. Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.

The second round of the competition had a promising start: 3,690 competition registrants submitted 755 proposals. Of those, 475 passed an initial administrative review.100&Change was designed to be fair, open, and transparent. The identity of the judges and the methodology used to assess initial proposals are public. Applicants received comments and feedback from the peers, judges, and technical reviewers. Key issues in the competition are discussed in a blog on MacArthur's website.

Media Contact:

Vanessa Parra, vanessa.parra@care.org, +1 917-525-0590 (NYC)

(New York March 26, 2020) – CARE’s analysis of INFORM Global Risk Index data has found that the world’s ‘highest risk’ countries have three times higher exposure to epidemics, such as COVID-19, but also have a six times higher risk in terms of their access to healthcare compared to the world’s lowest risk countries.

Somalia, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Chad, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Niger, Haiti and Uganda are all considered ‘Very High Risk’ by INFORM and are amongst the countries with the weakest capacity to cope with the added stress of a pandemic such as COVID-19.

“While even wealthy and better prepared nations are struggling to cope at this time, the impact on the countries highlighted in this analysis shows how people living in insecure environments, with extremely weak health infrastructure, are going to be far worse off. Countries such as South Sudan and Syria are in the midst of conflict. Many countries on this list are already food insecure, with large parts of their populations reliant on international aid for survival. Add on COVID-19 and it is not only national health systems that will struggle to cope, but the entire infrastructure and basic services. This is a truly terrifying thought for all of us working in the humanitarian sector,” says Sally Austin, CARE International’s Head of Emergency Operations.

As Tue Jakobsen CARE Turkey’s, Assistant Country Director – Humanitarian notes; “in Northwest Syria, there is no functioning government and the health system has been destroyed over the past nine years. Hundreds of thousands of people are not able to do basic preventative measure, such as wash their hands. With no testing capacity, it is highly likely that the virus has been spreading around without our knowledge, so we might be weeks behind in our response. An outbreak will cause mayhem in an area that has already gone through so much suffering. We are currently at a stage where only around 900 testing kits have been made available this week in Idlib and there is only one lab that can that can handle about 20 tests per day. Since this is a global crisis, countries are prioritizing their own responses and Syria has been completely neglected. There is an urgent need to scale up the health response and increase health supplies going into Northwest Syria.”

On top of poor access to healthcare these countries also face the highest levels of food insecurity, displacement and socio-economic inequality. All of which increase the vulnerability to COVID-19 and the likely levels of devastation the virus will have in a given country.

CARE’s analysis found that in comparison to the 36 ‘very low risk’ countries, including Norway, UK and New Zealand, the 14 most vulnerable and ‘very high risk’ countries are at:

• Over 4 times (336%) higher risk of food insecurity
• Almost 9 times (756%) higher risk of socioeconomic vulnerability
• Over three times more likely to be providing refuge for displaced and uprooted people (210% greater risk level)

“This data shows a stark and chilling picture of what we can expect as we start to see the COVID-19 pandemic spread to many Asian, Africa and Middle Eastern countries. In order to try and best prepare, at CARE, where possible, we are scaling up our activities to ensure that clear guidance on risk, prevention and awareness of symptoms are available in the communities where we work. We are scaling up water supply activities to facilitate good personal and household hygiene.

“But this alone is clearly not enough. We need strong commitments from all national Governments to immediately respect the global cease fire called for by the UN Secretary General earlier this week and we need to ensure humanitarians are seen as essential workers and supported to have unimpeded access to continue to deliver lifesaving assistance to already highly vulnerable communities. We also call on all major donors to show solidarity and contribute to the global appeal that was launched on 25th March,” says Austin.

Austin adds; “If coronavirus has shown us one thing it is that we are all in this together. The sense of community this pandemic has created is truly heart-warming. We are asking people to go one step further and not just care for their local communities, but also to think about their global community, and those likely to be affected even worse.”

Notes to editors:

• CARE International works in 13 of the 14 countries considered ‘Very High Risk’ by INFORM.
• The full INFORM 2020 analysis can be found here: https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Portals/0/InfoRM/2020/INFORM_GRI_2020_v040.xlsx?ver=2020-02-07-143254-790
• The full INFORM category and ranking methodology can be found here: https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=wUToWHbXsgQ%3d&tabid=107&portalid=0
• CARE International used data from INFORM Global Risk Index for this analysis. INFORM (Index for Risk Management) is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity. We analysed risk indicators associated with vulnerability, lack of coping capacity and hazard and exposure, comparing averages against ‘very high risk’ countries against ‘very low risk’ countries across these indicators
• INFORM risk scores are on a scale of 0 (very low) to 10 (very high)
• Very high risk countries are: Uganda, Haiti, Niger, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Congo DR, Iraq, Chad, Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Yemen, Central African Republic & Somalia
• Very low risk countries are: Singapore, Finland, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, Iceland, Slovenia, Bahrain, Qatar, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Switzerland, Latvia, Sweden, Austria, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovakia, Poland, Grenada, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Malta, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and United Arab Emirates
• Socio economic vulnerability risk scores are calculated by analysing data in areas that include development and deprivation, inequality (including gender inequality), and economic dependency.  Uprooted people risk scores analyse displacement data (IDPs and Refugees) as total numbers and as % of population.  Food Security risk scores analyse food utilisation data against food availability.  Access to healthcare risk scores analyse data associated with density of physicians, immunisation coverage, maternal mortality and per capita private and public expenditure on healthcare.  Epidemic risk scores are analysed based on data that includes the number of vets, IHR Capacity Score (food safety), and data on foodborne and waterborne diseases of any given country
• Between 2015 and 2019, CARE has run 57 projects that aimed to stop the spread of infectious disease epidemics—like Ebola, cholera, and zika—in 20 countries around the world. During these events, our existing networks, such as CARE-sponsored Village Savings and Loan Associations, were instrumental in dispersing information to communities during the 2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, helping combat the spread of the disease. These projects collectively worked with 9 million people directly and 16.7 million indirectly.

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Media contact: Kalei Talwar

Press Officer

email: kalei.talwar@care.org | skype: kalei.talwar

cell: +1 808-381-6901