A framework for improving diabetes care in humanitarian emergencies

More than 100 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict and violence in 2022, a historic number that is expected to increase this year. Additionally, a mean of approximately 200 million people are affected by natural disasters each year. Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) not only host more than 80% of people who have been forcibly displaced but are also home to most people with diabetes globally. Most crises are protracted, with the mean duration of displacement ranging from 10 years to 26 years, and humanitarian organisations provide long-term primary care to local and displaced populations. However, diabetes care is inadequate and largely neglected in humanitarian settings. In 2019, the Boston Declaration was signed by more than 40 organisations, emphasising this crucial gap and setting a shared agenda to improve diabetes care in humanitarian settings over the following 3 years.