Worldwide, there are millions of people suffering in humanitarian crises. Many of these people are in urgent need of international assistance to survive. Most of these people suffer hidden from the eyes of the world public. At the start of 2025, some 307 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. DONARE would like to draw your attention to some of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that Palestinians in northern Gaza are experiencing extreme suffering as the Israeli siege of the area continues. OCHA says there are harrowing levels of death, injury and destruction in the north. Meanwhile, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) describe apocalyptic scenes as atrocities against civilians and attacks on hospitals intensify.
Founded in 1947, UNICEF USA (United States Fund for UNICEF) is one of 34 National Committees located in countries around the world, that raises funds for the United Nations Children's Fund’s emergency and development work and advocates for children’s rights worldwide. The National Committees are a part of UNICEF’s global organization, each established as an independent local non-governmental organization (NGO). UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children.
UNICEF UK was founded in 1956, and is one of 34 National Committees located in countries around the world, that raises funds for the United Nations Children's Fund’s emergency and development work and advocates for children’s rights worldwide. The National Committees are a part of UNICEF’s global organization, each established as an independent local non-governmental organization (NGO).
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization that assists people who have been forced to flee their homes. Its headquarters are located in Oslo, Norway. The non-governmental organization (NGO) protects and supports displaced people. Founded in 1946, the Norwegian Refugee Council began its relief efforts after the Second World War and is now one of the world's largest NGOs supporting refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The NRC's focus is on providing urgent humanitarian aid in the emergency phase of a conflict or natural disaster.
UNICEF Australia is the Australian National Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which works to promote the rights and well-being of children worldwide. The Australian charity is one of 34 National Committees, located in countries around the world, that raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work and advocates for children’s rights worldwide. The National Committees are a part of UNICEF’s global organization, each established as an independent local non-governmental organization (NGO).
The Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) is the highest-ranking United Nations official responsible for humanitarian affairs. The ERC reports directly to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and serves as a focal point for governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on humanitarian issues. In this capacity, the ERC may be called before the UN Security Council in humanitarian emergencies.
With no political solution in sight, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warns that Niger’s political crisis could rapidly deteriorate into a humanitarian emergency as attacks by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) continue and sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the country begin to take effect. Meanwhile, 45 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), working in the Sahel country, are calling on the international community to introduce humanitarian exemptions to the collective sanctions imposed against Niger.
Founded in 1933 with the aim of helping the politically persecuted, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest non-governmental organizations (NGO) focusing on the support of refugees worldwide. The NGO provides emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution, or natural disaster. The IRC responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive and rebuild their live. Its international headquarters are based in the United States.
A renewed escalation of the conflict in northern Syria could worsen the suffering of millions of people struggling to cope with a dire humanitarian situation in the country's twelve-year crisis, the Syria International NGO Regional Forum (SIRF) warned in a statement Thursday. The international group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to the Syria crisis is calling on all warring parties to refrain from further escalation and protect civilians.
Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization that focuses on the world's most vulnerable people. The non-governmental organization (NGO) not only provides emergency aid in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, but is also involved in long-term development cooperation. Concern Worldwide - formerly known as Africa Concern - was founded in Dublin in 1968 by a small group of people in response to the famine and conflict in Biafra. The NGO's international headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. Concern Worldwide is currently active in 25 countries.
CARE is an international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing assistance in emergencies. The non-governmental organization (NGO) focuses on empowering women and girls. CARE nowadays stands for "Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere". The NGO, is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty and social injustice. CARE Australia is a member of the global CARE Confederation. In 2020/21, the Australian branch assisted 2.3 million people across 24 countries.
Plan International is an independent development cooperation and humanitarian aid organization that campaigns for children's rights and opportunities and for equal rights for girls. Plan International was founded in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and is one of the oldest and largest charities for children in the world. The non-governmental organization (NGO) is currently active in more than 75 countries. Plan International responds to emergencies and disasters that threaten the lives of children.
WASH stands for water, sanitation, and hygiene. The acronym WASH is widely used in the context of humanitarian aid and development work by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations agencies. Access to safe water and sanitation is a human right.
IPC stands for the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a multi-partner initiative for improving food security and decision-making. By using the IPC classification and analytical approach, governments, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and other relevant actors, work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in a country, according to internationally-recognized scientific standards.
UNICEF Canada was founded in 1955, and is one of 34 National Committees located in countries around the world. The National Committees are a part of UNICEF’s global organization, each established as an independent local non-governmental organization (NGO). The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the agency of the UN responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The UN agency is today one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world.
Killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence by criminal groups in and around Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, have increased dramatically since the start of 2023 with a weak to non-existent state response, the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in a report released Monday. HRW said while international security support may be needed, it should be “part of a multi-faceted response with robust human rights safeguards.”
The German aid organization Welthungerhilfe warns that the number of people suffering from hunger is rising worldwide, and at the same time food and transport prices are exploding, so that the hunger crises are continuing to spread globally. According to the non-governmental organization (NGO), the situation has become particularly severe in the Horn of Africa, where 17 million people currently do not have enough food to eat. Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are experiencing the worst drought in 40 years.
According to health officials in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed more than 55,000 Palestinians — most of whom were children, women, and the elderly — and injured more than 127,000 others in their attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 2023. However, the true numbers of fatalities are estimated to be much higher. The identified dead include more than 15,000 children, 463 aid workers, 319 UN staff members, 1,580 healthcare workers, and 224 journalists.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says thousands have been displaced after clashes broke out Friday morning between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the outskirts of the Sudanese town of Wad Madani. As of Sunday, the fighting in the capital of Al-Jazirah State, located some 136 km southeast of Sudan’s national capital Khartoum, is ongoing.
