Forgotten Crises

A recent article in the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization's online magazine, YaleGlobal, examines why some humanitarian crises get more media attention than others. Read "Marketing Humanitarian Crises: Needy groups compete to market plights and win global attention" (21 Feb. 2006).

Earlier, a conference held in 2002 examined the problem of so-called "forgotten crises." The report from that meeting provides an overview and analysis.

International organizations and NGOs often prepare various lists of overlooked or neglected crises. Some examples:

- AlertNet, Top 10 'Forgotten' Emergencies
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Underreported Humanitarian Stories of 2005
- UN, 10 Stories the world should hear more about

For the past several years, ECHO has given priority to forgotten crises in its aid strategy. To identify these, ECHO undertakes an assessment to create a forgotten crises index (see also accompanying notes).

For more information online, search on "forgotten crises” or “forgotten emergencies."

Posted in Publications.