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As hunger rises, new World Vision research shows what keeps refugee children safe

Friday, 19 June 2026

Key Facts:

World Vision spokespeople available for interview, including on:

• New World Vision–WFP research showing that when refugee families can meet their own basic needs, their children are far better protected from hunger, child labour, early marriage, leaving school and family separation
• What this means for Australian aid — the case for patient, flexible support that helps families move from survival to self-reliance
• The scale of need behind the day: 318 million people across 68 countries facing acute food insecurity, and what's working to turn those risks around
• The lived reality for refugee children and families across the eight countries surveyed, in their own words

For queries and media requests, please contact:

Domi Gonzales at [email protected] or 0413 788 380.

Claire McIlroy at [email protected] or 0422 925 100.

Marking World Refugee Day on Saturday 20 June, new research from World Vision in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) shows that when families are able to meet their own basic needs without outside help, their children are far better protected from hunger, child labour, early marriage, dropping out of school and being separated from their parents.

 

The study drew on nearly 3,500 household surveys across eight countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It found that as humanitarian assistance falls away, families are pushed into harmful survival strategies, but also that building a household’s self-reliance can turn those risks around.

 

“Sometimes we only eat once a day… when our parents don’t find work, they get even more desperate.” — Child, Colombia

 

World Vision Australia Chief Executive Grant Bayldon said the findings reflected what World Vision sees in communities every day: “When a family can stand on its own feet, their children can eat, stay in school and they can thrive together. Australians have always been generous in standing with refugee children and families, and this research shows that generosity goes furthest when it helps families move from just survival to self-reliance.”

 

“We’re encouraging the Australian Government to keep backing patient and flexible support which gives children not just enough to get by today, but a real chance to thrive into the future,” said World Vision Australia Head of Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs Patrick Thomas.

 

Among the households surveyed, the report found:

• 57% had at least one household member go to sleep hungry in the past month,
• 21% reported irregular school attendance among their children,
• 11% reported child–parent separation.

 

Children in households facing higher food insecurity were seven times more likely to be forced into child marriage. But where households built self-reliance, children’s wellbeing improved markedly. The research found self-reliance contributed to:

• 56% lower odds of children begging for food or money,
• 38% lower odds of leaving school to work,
• 33% lower odds of child marriage,
• 31% lower odds of family separation.

 

“When an adult is unemployed, there is too much suffering in the family… When an adult can work, the situation for children improves.” — Boy, Burundi

 

According to WFP, 318 million people across 68 countries are experiencing acute food insecurity, with 41.1 million in Emergency or worse (IPC/CH Phase 4+).

 

The research underpins World Vision’s global campaigns against hunger, with the organisation working to end child hunger by investing in child-centred, climate-resilient food systems and connecting humanitarian response with longer-term solutions, so families can build self-reliance and children have enough to eat, learn and thrive.

 

“The generosity Australians show refugee families saves lives today. Spent well, it does even more: it gives children a path out of survival and the chance to build a future for themselves. That is an investment worth protecting,” Mr Thomas said.

 

To find out more, visit worldvision.com.au.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:

• About the research. The report draws on 3,494 household surveys, 32 focus group discussions, and 45 key informant interviews across eight countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Most survey respondents were women (74%); 88% of household heads were men. Of those surveyed, 36% were host community households, 30% refugees, 20% internally displaced people, and 14% stateless people, returnees or other vulnerable groups.
• Wider findings. Among the households surveyed, 57% had at least one member go to sleep hungry in the past month, 21% reported irregular school attendance among their children, and 11% reported child–parent separation. Children in households facing higher food insecurity were seven times more likely to be forced into child marriage.
• According to WFP, 318 million people across 68 countries are experiencing acute food insecurity, with 41.1 million in Emergency or worse (IPC/CH Phase 4+).
• “In this report, children speak with heartbreaking clarity about the realities they are surviving, and the futures they still dare to imagine. The question is not whether these dreams are achievable but whether there is the political will and the courage to make them real,” said Amanda Rives, Senior Director of Humanitarian Policy, Advocacy and Partnerships at World Vision International.
• The report calls for action across governments, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and the private sector to protect refugee rights and expand access to work, education, movement, social protection and documentation; to provide sufficient, quality funding for integrated humanitarian programs; and to work across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus.
• The full report is available here.

About us:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision and their partners are working in communities to improve families’ economic prospects, strengthen violence prevention and child protection services, and improve education systems. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

Contact details:

Domi Gonzales | [email protected] | 0413 788 380. 

Claire McIlroy | [email protected] | 0422 925 100.