The humanitarian organization International Rescue Committee (IRC) released its annual Emergency Watchlist this week, which identifies the 20 countries most at risk of experiencing worsening humanitarian crises in 2026. Sudan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and South Sudan top this year's dire ranking and offer stark examples of the devastating impact of what the IRC calls a "New World Disorder."
Each year, the IRC publishes a list of humanitarian crises expected to deteriorate the most in the coming year. According to the analysis, the following ten countries are likely to continue to face the worst humanitarian crises in 2026: (1) Sudan, (2) OPT, (3) South Sudan, (4) Ethiopia, (5) Haiti, (6) Myanmar, (7) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), (8) Mali, (9) Burkina Faso, and (10) Lebanon.
In alphabetical order, the list of the 20 countries most affected by severe humanitarian crises also includes Afghanistan, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Niger, Nigeria, Ukraine, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
The IRC warns that the situation in these countries reflects a dangerous divergence between surging crises and shrinking support. Collectively, these countries represent just 12 percent of the global population, yet they account for 89 percent of people in need of humanitarian assistance, and they are projected to host over half of the world's extreme poor by 2029.
“What the IRC is seeing on the ground is not a tragic accident. The world is not simply failing to respond to crisis; actions and words are producing, prolonging, and rewarding it,” said David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC, in a statement on Tuesday.
"The scale of the crisis in Sudan, ranking first on this year’s Watchlist for the third year in a row and now the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded, is a signature of this disorder."
Due to civil war, acute food insecurity, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and worsening climate shocks, more than 33 million people in Sudan will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. The country has become the site of the world's largest humanitarian, hunger, and displacement crises. In Sudan, a nation rich in gold and oil—the main drivers of the war and external interference—approximately 15 million people have been displaced, nearly a tenth of all people forced to flee worldwide.
Of the 117 million people forcibly displaced across the globe, nearly 40 million are facing severe hunger and require urgent action to save lives. However, crises are growing, and global humanitarian funding has shrunk by nearly half.
According to the non-governmental organization (NGO), what remains is a humanitarian system that is "underfunded, undercut, and unprepared" to address the unprecedented humanitarian crises expected in 2026.
As global cooperation unravels and major aid cuts occur, the United Nations Security Council has seen a surge in vetoes, stalling responses to atrocities in Sudan, Syria, and Gaza. Conflict is increasingly being used as a tool for power and profit. For example, warring parties and their backers are profiting from the gold trade in Sudan, which is deepening violence and devastating civilians.
While impunity is rampant, and 2025 is on track to be the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, attacks on schools have increased by nearly 50 percent. In Gaza, hospitals, shelters, and essential infrastructure have been bombed or cut off from aid.
The NGO warns that these trends are not only destabilizing, but also incentivizing and reinforcing the devastating trends in countries on the Watchlist.
“This year’s Watchlist is a testament to misery but also a warning: without urgent action from those with power to make a difference, 2026 risks becoming the most dangerous year yet. Civilians in Watchlist countries are paying the price today,” Miliband said.
He added that the "New World Disorder" was here and gaining momentum everywhere.
According to the IRC, this "New World Disorder" is replacing the post–World War II international system, which was once grounded in rules and rights. Characterized by intensifying geopolitical rivalries, shifting alliances, and transactional deal-making, this disorder is driving a cascade of crises and eroding global support for the world’s most vulnerable.
“Disorder begets disorder. The question is whether to respond with vision, an opportunity for reinvention or with further retreat,” Miliband said.
Although these trends are devastating, the IRC insists that solutions exist and are proving effective.
To address the root causes of these crises and shape a more just global system, the IRC recommends reinvigorating diplomacy, protecting civilians, combating impunity and targeting those most in need.
To resolve conflicts fueled by war economies, the NGO says all diplomatic initiatives must include an analysis of who profits from violence. These illicit networks must be disrupted with targeted sanctions, anti-money laundering measures, and other channels.
The organization stresses that states must take practical steps, both individually and collectively, to promote international law, including withholding arms sales when violations occur or are at risk of occurring.
The IRC calls on the aid system to adapt as shrinking support dismantles cooperation on shared objectives. One way to do so is by shifting from a model of limited resources spread thin to a more sustainable approach built on a broader donor base.
Further information
Full text: IRC Emergency Watchlist 2026, New World Disorder, International Rescue Committee (IRC) , report, released December 16, 2025
https://www.rescue.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/Watchlist%202026.pdf