The world is plagued by further humanitarian crises that should neither be forgotten nor neglected. Though DONARE presently does not compile a complete crisis profile, here are snapshots of some of these humanitarian situations. The emergency situations include: the crisis in Madagascar due to ongoing food insecurity and vulnerability to climate-related disasters; the crisis in Malawi due to drought and flooding; the ongoing crisis in the Western Sahara; the crisis in southern Turkey and northern Syria following the devastating earthquakes of early February 2023; the crisis in Libya following Storm Daniel in September 2023; and the crisis in Kenya following the longest and most severe drought on record.
Madagascar Crisis
Madagascar faces multiple humanitarian challenges, with more than 2.5 million people in need of urgent assistance. The country is increasingly vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards, including tropical cyclones, drought and flooding.
An estimated 230,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance following the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Gamane in northeastern Madagascar. The tropical cyclone made landfall in northeastern Madagascar at the end of March 2024, wreaking havoc in several regions. More than 625,000 people were affected in 33 flooded communes, with 18 people killed and 22,000 displaced.
Gamane, the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Madagascar in 2024, hit the northern regions with massive rains and winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. More than 18,000 homes were flooded. The cyclone has exacerbated the plight of a vulnerable population already burdened by multiple crises.
Prior to Tropical Cyclone Gamane, the United Nations estimated that 2.3 million people in Madagascar were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance this year.
Madagascar is highly exposed to natural hazards and ranks among the top 10 countries in the world most vulnerable to climate change. In recent years, the country has faced a series of drought, flood, and cyclone disasters that have caused death, damage, and displacement.
In February and March 2023, one of the longest-lasting tropical cyclones on record hit Madagascar, causing extensive damage and loss of lives, leaving more than 72,000 people displaced and affecting overall at least 300,000 men, women, and children. In 2021, the country experienced its worst drought in 40 years.
While the Grand Sud of Madagascar was hit by consecutive droughts in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 rainy seasons, the region faced a delayed start to the 2022/2023 rainy season. Following a massive increase in humanitarian aid, food insecurity and malnutrition have improved. However, the situation remains precarious. The persistent drought in the Grand Sud and the successive tropical cyclones in the Grand Sud-Est, as well as the risk of El Niño-related climate extremes, have severely affected agricultural production, food security and infrastructure in the two regions.
According to the latest analysis of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), around 1.7 million people in the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est are expected to be affected by acute food insecurity between January 2024 and April 2024. This figure includes more than 188,000 people who will face emergency conditions. About 459,000 children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. This includes over 121,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and almost 338,000 children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).
Donations
There are currently few active appeals for the Malawi crisis. You may also consider an un-earmarked donation to organizations or funds that are active in the country.
- UNICEF: Madagascar appeal
https://www.unicef.org/appeals/madagascar - World Food Programme (WFP): Madagascar
https://www.wfp.org/countries/madagascar - UN Crisis Relief: Central Emergency Response Fund
https://crisisrelief.un.org/t/cerf
Malawi Crisis
Malawi is facing the devastating effects of drought. On March 23, 2024, Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of emergency in 23 out of 28 districts affected by El Niño conditions. Malawi, like several other countries in southern Africa, is grappling with the effects of a severe drought exacerbated by the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
The southern East African country is still reeling from the impact of tropical storms and cyclones in 2022 and 2023, and the compounding effect is pushing up to 40 percent of the country's population - about 9 million people - into hunger, threatening both lives and livelihoods.
By early 2024, nearly 2 million farming families and more than 40 percent of the country's agricultural land were affected by extreme weather, with rains and prolonged dry spells, as well as flooding, severely damaging crops and food production.
Humanitarian agencies in Malawi, such as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), are scaling up emergency assistance, including food and nutrition, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support. They are also providing health, protection, education and livelihoods support, despite limited funding.
Before the deterioration, an estimated 4.4 million Malawians - 22 percent of the population - were expected to be acutely food insecure from October 2023 to March 2024, the period when food is most scarce. More than 62,000 children aged 6 to 59 months were at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), also known as wasting. An estimated 573,800 children under the age of five and 228,000 pregnant and lactating women were at risk of malnutrition.
Neighboring Zimbabwe and Zambia have also been hit hard by the drought. Both countries have declared a state of emergency. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a record dry spell of more than 30 days has affected much of the southern African region, including Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The affected areas received the lowest rainfall for the late January/February period in at least 40 years.
By the end of 2023, FEWS NET had issued an alert for Southern Africa, warning that more than 20 million people across Southern Africa were expected to face crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels of food security in the early months of 2024.
In 2022/2023, Malawi experienced the deadliest cholera outbreak in the country's history. The Malawi Ministry of Health declared the cholera outbreak on March 3, 2022, following the spread of several confirmed cases. The number of cholera cases and deaths in the country increased exponentially, with the peak of the outbreak affecting all 29 districts of Malawi in January 2023.
By June 2023, health officials reported that the cholera outbreak was finally slowing, thanks to the continued work of the national government and the international community. The United Nations and its humanitarian partners provided more than one million people with access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene supplies. As of January 2024, cholera cases in Malawi are sporadic, averaging only 10 cases per week.
The country also experiences a variety of natural disasters, including cyclones, cyclical droughts, earthquakes, floods, and severe storms. In March 2023, one of the longest-lasting tropical cyclones on record hit Malawi, causing extensive damage, killing hundreds of people, leaving more than 650,000 homeless, and affecting approximately 2.3 million people.
Donations
There are currently few active appeals for the Malawi crisis. You may also consider an un-earmarked donation to organizations or funds that are active in the country.
- World Food Programme (WFP): Malawi
https://www.wfp.org/countries/malawi - UNICEF: Malawi
https://www.unicef.org/malawi/ - UN Crisis Relief: Central Emergency Response Fund
https://crisisrelief.un.org/t/cerf
Western Sahara Crisis
The Western Sahara crisis is a long-standing conflict over the sovereignty of the Western Sahara, a territory in North Africa that is bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. The Sahrawi refugee crisis refers to the displacement of a large number of people from the Western Sahara, who fled their homes during the conflict. The crisis began in 1975, when Spain withdrew from the Western Sahara, and both Morocco and Mauritania claimed sovereignty over the region. The dispute led to a war between the two countries and the Western Saharan independence movement, known as the Polisario Front.
As a result of the conflict, many Sahrawi people were forced to flee their homes and became refugees in neighboring countries, particularly Algeria, which provided them with sanctuary. The refugees established camps in the Tindouf province of Algeria, where they continue to live to this day. The camps are home to an estimated 173,000 refugees, many of whom were born in the camps and have never known life outside of them.
The five Sahrawi refugee camps (Awserd, Boujdour, Dakhla, Laayoune, and Smara) in Algeria - on the border between Mauritania, Morocco, and Western Sahara - are located in a remote and inhospitable desert region, which makes it difficult to provide for the basic needs of the refugees. The refugees in the Sahrawi camps face a number of challenges, including limited access to food, water, and medical care. In addition, the long-standing conflict over the Western Sahara has made it difficult to find a lasting solution to the refugee crisis.
There is currently insufficient information on the humanitarian situation in the refugee camps in Tindouf, as well as on the exact number of people affected and in need. The refugees remain extremely vulnerable and dependent on international assistance for survival, with limited opportunities for self-reliance.
In November 2023, the UN launched the Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan, covering the needs of Sahrawi refugees in 2024 and 2025. The Plan calls for $214 million to ensure food stability, a reliable water supply as well as to address the nutritional requirements of people living in camps in Tindouf. Funding will also be used to enhance educational access, offer protection services and to improve and promote the health of the men, women and children living there.
Donations
- World Food Programme (WFP): Algeria (The World Food Programme has been supporting the most food insecure refugees since 1986.)
https://www.wfp.org/countries/algeria - Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Saharawi Response / Algeria
https://pro.drc.ngo/where-we-work/west-north-africa/saharawi/
Libya Crisis
On September 10-11, 2023, Storm Daniel passed over Libya, causing heavy rains and flooding in several districts. The impact of Storm Daniel was exacerbated by the collapse of two dams, which caused the deaths of thousands of people in the city of Derna. Homes, livelihoods and entire communities were washed away. As of October 4, the storm has claimed more than 4,300 lives, while more than 9,500 people are still missing in Derna. An estimated 250,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the storm.
At least 45,000 people have been displaced in northeastern Libya due to flooding caused by the storm and dam breaches. The flooding in Libya has claimed many lives, destroyed infrastructure, and created a crisis for displaced people who are now coping with the aftermath. 101 health workers in Libya lost their lives during Storm Daniel or in its immediate aftermath.
In the hardest-hit northeastern city of Derna, at least 25,000 people remain displaced. Widespread damage and destruction of homes have forced thousands to seek refuge in makeshift shelters, schools, and overcrowded homes with family and friends, many of whom were themselves affected by the storm.
In addition to the hardships caused by the September 2023 floods, Libya has experienced widespread armed conflict, civil unrest, and political instability since 2011. Although humanitarian conditions have improved since the October 2020 ceasefire agreement, people living in Libya - local residents, migrants, and refugees - continue to face the negative effects of political and economic instability and insecurity.
Libya is effectively controlled by two rival administrations: the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and authorities co-located with the parliament in the east of the country. The two rival governments in Libya mean that decision-making is often paralyzed. The Libyan population continues to suffer the effects of political and economic instability and ongoing violence, including fierce fighting in Tripoli in the summer of 2022. An estimated 329,000 people in Libya were in need of humanitarian assistance in early 2023, prior to Storm Daniel.
As of October 2023, more than 125,000 people across the country were displaced due to conflict, while more than 705,000 previously displaced Libyans have returned to their areas of origin. Meanwhile, some internally displaced people (IDPs) are unable to return to their areas of origin due to damaged shelters and infrastructure, lack of basic services, or security concerns. IDPs and returnees in Libya require ongoing humanitarian assistance, including health care, protection, and shelter support.
In addition, Libya remains a major transit country for refugees and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. As of October 2023, some 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in the country. As of March 2023, Libya was home to more than 705,000 migrants. The United Nations reports that migrants in Libya face high levels of protection risks, including arbitrary detention, forced labor, violence, restricted movement, and gender-based violence, as well as limited access to housing and basic services.
Humanitarian organizations in Libya continue to face bureaucratic and administrative obstacles that impede their work. These include problems renewing visas for international staff and difficulties accessing Libya's financial system, which prevent them from making international financial transfers, opening local bank accounts, and withdrawing cash. These obstacles have delayed the delivery of critical assistance to vulnerable populations throughout the country.
Donations
- United Nations Crisis Relief: Libya Floods Response
https://crisisrelief.un.org/libya-floods-response - UN World Food Programme (WFP): Libya Floods Emergency
https://donate.wfp.org/1244/donation/single/?campaign=3326&utm_campaign=230912_Libya_Emergency - United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR): Libya Floods Emergency
https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/libya-floods - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC): Libya Storm Daniel
https://donation.ifrc.org/?campaign=d2444dee-0652-ee11-a2e7-005056010027 - International Rescue Committee: Flood in Libya
https://help.rescue.org/donate/urgent-crisis-flood-libya - UNICEF: Urgent appeal for Libya Floods 2023
https://help.unicef.org/libya-floods-2023 - International Medical Corps: Libya Floods
https://give.internationalmedicalcorps.org/page/135068/donate/1 - Islamic Relief Worldwide: Libya Floods Appeal
https://islamic-relief.org/appeals/libya-floods-appeal/
Turkey-Syria Earthquake Emergency
At least 18 million people have been directly affected by the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquakes that killed more than 60,000 women, men, and children and injured more than 114,000 in Turkey and Syria. At least 300,000 buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged, and more than 3 million people have been left homeless and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including large numbers of Syrian refugees. Turkey is currently the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. 3.6 million Syrian refugees have found refuge in the country. The earthquakes have also severely affected northwestern Syria, a region where 4.1 million people already rely on humanitarian aid to survive. Emergency relief operations in Turkey and Syria are ongoing to provide life-saving assistance.
The United Nations launched a flash appeal for $1billion (€ 936 million) in emergency aid to help victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Turkey. The funds will provide humanitarian relief to 5.2 million people. More than 9.1 million people in Turkey have been directly impacted by the disaster. A separate appeal for Syria asked for $397.6 million (€ 373,4 Mio.) to respond to the most pressing humanitarian needs. The flash appeal for the earthquake response in Syria targeted emergency relief to 4.9 million people in most acute need. 8.8 million people in Syria had been affected by the devastating earthquakes.
Donations
- UN Crisis Relief: Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Appeal
https://crisisrelief.un.org/turkiye-syria-earthquake-appeal - World Food Programme (WFP): Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria
https://donate.wfp.org/1244/donation/single/?campaign=2025 - UNHCR: Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Emergency
https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/turkiye-syria-earthquake-emergency - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Syria Earthquake
https://donation.ifrc.org/?campaign=d333c1a4-09a7-ed11-a2da-005056010028 - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Türkiye Earthquake
https://donation.ifrc.org/?campaign=f3cfd66a-0ba7-ed11-a2da-005056010028 - CARE International: Turkey Syria Earthquakes Fund
https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?36068.donation=form1&df_id=36068 - Concern worldwide: Turkey-Syria Earthquake Emergency Appeal
https://www.concern.net/donate/turkey-syria-earthquake-emergency-appeal - Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC): Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal
https://donation.dec.org.uk/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal
See also
Kenya Crisis
Countries in the Horn of Africa were hit by the longest and most severe drought on record, leaving millions at risk of starvation. Among these countries, Kenya was also facing unprecedented drought due to five consecutive below-average rainy seasons. By the end of 2022, an estimated 4.4 million people were acutely food insecure (crisis level or worse), including 1.2 million in emergency situations. At least 2.5 million livestock had died due to drought. Water sources were drying up in Kenya's pastoral areas after the end of the fifth consecutive failed rainy season.
Kenya was facing the greatest acute food insecurity ever recorded in the country, surpassing the levels of the 2011 and 2017 droughts, and the worsening drought was exacerbating insecurity and resource-related conflicts in many drought-affected regions.
In 2023, improved rainfall, access to water and pasture alleviated the impact of the severe and protracted historic drought. Although the rains have brought some relief, it will be years before the historic drought is overcome.
According to the latest IPC food security analysis, some 1.5 million people faced crisis or worse levels of hunger between October 2023 and January 2024, including some 266,000 under IPC phase 4 (emergency) and 1,26 million under phase 3 (crisis). This is a welcome and significant decline compared to 4.4 million in February 2023.
However, a total of 946,000 children under five still face acute malnutrition; 217,000 of these children face severe malnutrition and may be at risk of dying without immediate treatment.
The improved food security situation can be attributed to favorable rainfall during the 2023 March to May season, and the October to December period, attributed to El-Nino conditions.
Kenya has been experiencing enhanced rains since September, with alarming level rainfall as a result of El Nino conditions. The third and fourth weeks of October marked the beginning of the rainy season characterized by heavy storms that caused flash floods and massive flooding, affecting hundred of thousands. Further flooding is expected, which could lead to displacement, deaths and disease.
The United Nations estimated that 6.4 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, including 2.2 million children. In addition, Kenya hosts some 600,000 refugees from neighboring countries, mainly Somalia.
Donations
- World Food Programme (WFP): Kenya emergency
https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/kenya-emergency - Malteser International: Drought relief in Kenya
https://www.malteser-international.org/en/our-work/africa/kenya/drought-relief-in-kenya.html - UNHCR: Horn of Africa drought emergency
https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/horn-africa-drought-emergency - Save the Children US: Horn of Africa Climate Crisis
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/emergency-response/horn-of-africa-climate-crisis - Oxfam International: Climate and food crisis in East and Central Africa
https://www.oxfam.org/en/what-we-do/emergencies/climate-and-food-crisis-east-and-central-africa
See also
Pakistan Crisis (Archive)
Heavy rains and a combination of riverine, urban and flash flooding led to an unprecedented climate-induced humanitarian disaster in Pakistan that started in June 2022, causing widespread fatalities, killing livestock, and damaging and destroying public and private infrastructure across the country. Rain-induced landslides and floods also damaged agricultural land and forests, impacting local ecosystems. The floods and heavy rains affected some 33 million people, including at least 7.9 million people who have been internally displaced.
Six months after the catastrophic floods in Pakistan, more than 10 million people, including children, in flood-affected areas were still without safe drinking water, according to UNICEF. This left families with no choice but to drink and use water potentially contaminated with disease.
The UN estimates 20.6 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, largely driven by a lack of access to clean water and health services, and increased food insecurity and malnutrition rates. The latest IPC food insecurity analysis indicates that around 8.62 million people were food insecure (crisis level or worse) from September to December 2022, of whom 6.02 million are estimated to be in crisis phase and 2.59 million in emergency phase. Furthermore, Pakistan hosted more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees who have been forced to flee their homes.
Donations
- UNICEF: Devastating floods in Pakistan
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/devastating-floods-pakistan-2022 - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Pakistan monsoon floods
https://www.ifrc.org/emergency/pakistan-monsoon-floods - Concern worldwide: Pakistan Floods Emergency Appeal
https://www.concern.net/donate/pakistan-floods-emergency-appeal - Islamic Relief Worldwide: Pakistan floods appeal
https://islamic-relief.org/appeals/pakistan-floods-appeal/
To find other organizations to which you can donate, visit: Humanitarian Crisis Relief, Refugees and IDPs, Children in Need, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Medical Humanitarian Aid, Vulnerable Groups, Faith-Based Humanitarian Organizations, and Human Rights Organizations.