On June 20, 2025, we observe World Refugee Day — a moment to honor the resilience of over 122 million individuals forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution and violence. This year, the United Nations Refugee Agency reports a staggering increase in displacement, with numbers nearly doubling over the past decade. Among those displaced, hunger is not just a consequence but a driving force, creating a vicious cycle that continues suffering and instability. In the heart of the world’s most urgent refugee and hunger crises, FMSC partners are delivering lifechanging meals — offering relief and hope to those who need it most.

The vicious cycle of conflict, displacement and hunger

A growing global crisis

According to the UN Refugee Agency:

• 1 in every 67 people on Earth is now displaced.
• By the end of 2024, 123.2 million people were living away from their homes due to conflict or disaster.

Conflict and displacement
Violence is the biggest reason people are forced to leave their homes. When conflict breaks out, it destroys homes, roads and access to things like schools and healthcare. Families often have to flee with no time to prepare — and for many, being displaced isn’t short-term. They can end up trapped in a cycle of uncertainty and vulnerability for years, facing constant uncertainty.

Hunger as a consequence and a cause

Displaced families lose access to their farms, jobs and food markets, often leaving them without enough nutritious food. Refugee camps frequently struggle to provide adequate meals, leading to high rates of malnutrition — especially among children. Hunger can also force families to move again, searching for food and safety.

Hunger and displacement fuel a vicious cycle, weakening health, stalling development and making recovery nearly impossible.

Food is the first step

Breaking this cycle starts with food. Nutrition is foundational to recovery and self-reliance. At FMSC, we are committed to providing lifechanging meals to children in the most vulnerable communities — because no child should suffer from hunger simply because they’ve been forced to flee.

As we honor the strength and resilience of displaced families around the world, we invite you to be part of the solution. Stand with us. Help break the cycle of hunger and displacement — one meal at a time