World Refugee Day 2025

Today, on World Refugee Day under the theme “Solidarity with Refugees,” we are reminded that unity and compassion are essential to our shared humanity. Against a backdrop of escalating crises, we must confront a severe reality: the World Food Programme (WFP) is grappling with a funding crisis that is jeopardizing its ability to save lives.

The Current Humanitarian Challenge

– Funding Shortfalls: In 2025, donor contributions to WFP are estimated to have dropped by 40% compared to the previous year, creating an unprecedented funding gap.

– Impact on Aid: This decline has forced drastic cuts in food assistance. In Uganda, over one million refugees have been left without adequate support—some seeing their food rations reduced to just 22% of their basic nutritional needs.

– Workforce Reductions: As part of cost-cutting measures, WFP plans to reduce its global workforce by 25–30%, affecting up to 6,000 roles. This contraction only further weakens the organization’s capacity to respond effectively to emergency needs.

– Rising Hunger and Risk: With aid dwindling, millions face a heightened risk of starvation and food insecurity. Even with efforts to prioritize the most critical needs, many regions continue to suffer due to dangerous shortages.

– Global Examples: Beyond Uganda, similar challenges are emerging worldwide—potential ration cuts for over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and urgent appeals from Kenya’s leadership to bolster support at the Kakuma Refugee Camp illustrate the scale of the crisis.

A Beacon of Hope: I-Strive Market Place (U) Limited

In this time of global solidarity, I-Strive Market Place (U) Limited emerges not merely as a business, but as a community-rooted solution that bridges the gap between economic opportunity and humanitarian need. Our business model is uniquely designed to transform everyday commerce into life-sustaining support for vulnerable communities.

– Transforming Transactions to Impact: Every purchase made through our marketplace contributes to direct support for refugee communities, turning sales into a sustainable funding source that eases the burden on traditional aid channels.

– Empowering Local Economies: By linking ethical commerce with community empowerment, we help turn hardship into the opportunity for resilience and self-reliance. Refugee artisans and local communities can leverage these funds to secure food, education, and healthcare—essentials that conventional aid can no longer guarantee.

– A Future Built on Solidarity: On World Refugee Day, we stand in solidarity with refugees worldwide. Our initiative is a call to transform crisis into hope, supporting those who have been forced to flee and ensuring that economic empowerment becomes a pathway to restored dignity and stability.

In Conclusion

Today is more than a day of remembrance—it is a call to action. By integrating market innovation with humanitarian commitment, I-Strive Market Place (U) Limited offers a replicable, scalable model designed to shore up the deficits created by dwindling global aid. As we observe World Refugee Day, let us unite under the banner of solidarity with refugees to build a future where every transaction is a step towards renewed hope, resilience, and human dignity.

Let’s stand together in solidarity—today and every day—to ensure that our shared future is one in which no one is left behind.