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In 2024, displacement surged to unprecedented levels. Conflict, persecution, poverty and climate disasters forced over 122 million people to flee their homes. In this pivotal moment, people like you helped us step into the gap. From Sudan to Ukraine, the Middle East to the U.S., we rose together to meet critical needs — as we have done for over 80 years.
World Relief was born from a movement of faithful Christ-followers sending aid to refugees in Europe after World War II. With partners like you, that movement continues today. Together, we boldly carried our mission into fiscal year 2024, engaging the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church.
The World Relief 2024 Annual Report tells the story of your bold, compassionate response that touched lives across the globe.
Hand-in-hand, we…
• Served 3,342,298 people globally
• Mobilized 4,500+ churches
• Engaged 26,996 volunteers
• Served 40,345 immigrants in the U.S.
What’s more, 76% of those served internationally and 66% of those served in the U.S. were women and children, who are often at greatest risk when disasters strike and crises erupt.
Keep reading to learn how people like you are helping those impacted by displacement and living in fragile contexts around the globe by building communities of resilience, supporting communities on the move, and creating communities of welcome.
Building Communities of Resilience
We envision a world where families flourish and people experience restored relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves and all of creation. In FY24, we took bold action alongside local churches and partners to help communities stand strong against the forces driving mass displacement and suffering in some of the world’s most vulnerable places.
- In Turkana, Kenya, we introduced Rose to black soldier fly larvae, a surprising and innovative solution to scarce resources in a drought-stricken environment. Now, she can sustainably feed her chickens, generating income and boosting her family’s nutrition. Read how a tiny insect is helping Rose and her family thrive.
- In Burundi, our Early Childhood Development centers helped refugee parents like Kabale support their children and strengthen family bonds even in the midst of crisis. Read how Kabale is providing for his kids.
- In Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi, 586 churches graduated from Church Empowerment Zones, marking an important moment in their journey towards self-sufficiency — as World Relief steps back, local churches take full ownership of ongoing development projects and ministries in their communities. Read how local churches are transforming lives.
This work is made possible by people just like you.
Supporting Communities on the Move
Today, more people than ever before have been forced to seek refuge in a country or community not their own. Tragically, more than 40% of these are children. For over 80 years, World Relief has responded on the front lines to global displacement in the U.S. and abroad through our distinct “here and there” approach. In FY24, we remained unwavering in our commitment to families and individuals forced to flee their homes.
- In Sudan, we reached over 815,000 people with life-saving assistance, even as conflict escalated and others withdrew. We also welcomed 580 Sudanese refugees in the U.S. Read how we’re committed to helping Sudanese communities.
- In Haiti, we remained present amid rising violence, serving over 210,000 people and welcoming over 200 Haitians seeking safety in the U.S. Read how we’re walking with Haitians caught in the conflict.
- In Egypt, we partnered with local churches responding to the urgent needs of displaced Palestinians and Israelis. People like the elderly Al Abdallah* sisters from Gaza. Read how the sisters found hope in the midst of crisis. (*names changed)
Creating Communities of Welcome
We take Jesus’ call to “welcome the stranger” to heart. When families arrive in the U.S. seeking relief from persecution and suffering, we partner with local churches to cultivate communities of welcome and belonging. FY24 was a historic year as we welcomed more refugees than ever before with bold, innovative support.
- Through virtual resettlement and partnerships like the Welcome Corps, we resettled refugees in communities without local World Relief offices, extending welcome further than we ever have before. Read about our historic year of welcome.
- In Chicagoland, churches embraced asylum seekers like Anna, a new mother, helping them find housing and stability. Read Anna’s story.
- Through advocacy and Churches of Welcome, a new and innovative discipleship journey for churches, we helped Christian leaders speak out, show up and support their immigrant neighbors. Read how we’re helping more churches speak up and take action.
For Such a Time as This
As we wrote World Relief’s 2024 Annual Report, we were filled with gratitude for all that we’ve accomplished together. But we also can’t let this moment pass without recognizing our current reality.
U.S. policy changes have dramatically reduced federal support for vulnerable communities around the world. Refugee families are separated from loved ones. Globally, clinics and food programs have been shuttered in fragile communities. Converging crises like conflict and climate disasters continue to escalate.
But here’s the good news: We believe World Relief was created for such a time as this. And so were you. The stories in this report demonstrate what’s possible when we act together. But we can’t do this work without people like you. Will you continue to join us in this God-inspired work today?
We are living through a critical moment in history. Lives are at stake … but you were created for such a time as this. Through your monthly gift, you can continue this life-saving and transforming work when and where people need us most.