Sudanese refugees who have fled the violence in their country queue to receive food supplements from the World Food Programme (WFP) near the border between Sudan and Chad in Adre, Chad on April 26, 2023.
I’ve never liked calling crises ‘opportunities’. Crises are painful. They disrupt lives, reverse progress and deepen inequality. Think of Covid-19: Millions died, poverty soared, and economies crumbled. And yet, the disruption also forced us to rethink how we worked, from remote data collection to digital cash transfers and more.
Today, the humanitarian sector faces another pivotal moment. We don’t need to spell out the current crisis, as much has already been written. But this much is clear: We are witnessing both a tragedy for the people we serve and a reckoning for the aid system. Whether we call it an opportunity or not, it is time to stop questioning ‘why’ and start deciding ‘how’ to navigate it.
