South Sudan is in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis driven by years of conflict, political instability and recurring violence. Although the 2018 peace agreement helped reduce large-scale fighting, violence has continued in parts of the country, and in 2026 South Sudan faces a serious risk of renewed nationwide conflict amid escalating political tensions and a worsening security situation. The crisis has left an estimated 9.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, while severe funding shortfalls are further exacerbating the situation.
On 6 February two devastating earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude took place in Turkeyâs KahramanmaraĆ Province, but more than a month after the disaster hit, needs remain immense, while funding has been slow. The Turkey Earthquake Appeal of $1 billion is currently only 10.4 per cent funded with $104.3 million received. The Syria Earthquake Flash Appeal has received $218 million, or 55 per cent, of the nearly $400 million needed.
With the humanitarian situation in Lebanon worsening by the day, health authorities report that at least 1,116 people have been killed and over 3,000 injured in Israeli attacks since March 2. Meanwhile, displacement continues to surge, with over 1.2 million people in Lebanon â around a fifth of the population â having been forced to flee their homes.
The United Nations, its humanitarian partners, and the Bangladeshi government are calling for renewed international support to address the urgent needs of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char in Bangladesh, as well as those of local host communities. Wednesdayâs appeal comes amid growing global instability and rising humanitarian pressures, which have forced difficult prioritization and threatened essential services for vulnerable people.
Lebanon is facing a severe humanitarian crisis following massive Israeli airstrikes and ground operations since March 2, 2026, triggered by a broader regional escalation after the US-Israeli launch of a war on Iran and subsequent rocket and drone launches by Hezbollah. Despite a reduction in hostilities due to several nominal ceasefires, the humanitarian situation remains fragile. Ongoing Israeli attacks continues to endanger civilians, impede the safe return of displaced people, and prolong humanitarian needs.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Monday that it remains gravely concerned about the impact of ongoing military activities in Lebanon on civilians. These concerns include the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on Beirutâs southern suburbs late Thursday, just before the start of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha. Additional strikes were recorded in the southern village of Ain Qana that same night.
In June 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela, causing more than 4.500 deaths and at least 16,700 injuries. This catastrophe added to an already deep crisis; 7.9 million people in Venezuela required humanitarian assistance at the beginning of 2026. Political turmoil, socioeconomic decline, and strained public services had led to the worst humanitarian crisis in South America and one of the world's largest migration crises. Since 2014, more than 6.7 million Venezuelans have fled to Latin American and Caribbean countries, out of nearly 8 million who have left Venezuela.
Three months after the horrific earthquakes of February 6 in Turkey and Northwest Syria, resulting in over 60,000 deaths, thousands of injuries, and massive damage to infrastructure, the humanitarian needs across the earthquake affected region remain acute, warns the nongovernmental organization (NGO) CARE International. In a statement Tuesday, CARE said it remains committed to continue responding to increasing humanitarian needs in a fragile context.
The North of Central America (NCA) â also called the Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA) â is a sub-region comprising El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and one of the most dangerous places on earth. Nicaragua is bordering the Northern Triangle. Gang violence, threats, extortion, persecution and sexual violence have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in search of safety. In 2025, more than 4.6 million people in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras were in need of humanitarian aid as the three countries continued to face violence, food insecurity, extreme weather events and mixed movements of refugees and migrants.
The Sahel region is experiencing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with over 26 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026. At the same time, it is one of the most overlooked regions. The main drivers of the region's unprecedented humanitarian needs are armed conflict, deteriorating security, political instability, and widespread poverty, particularly in the Central Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and western Niger, as well as the Lake Chad Basin, which covers parts of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
February 13 marks one week since devastating twin earthquakes struck the Turkish Syrian border region. With the death toll surpassing 36,000 and hundreds of thousands more homeless, the region remains in the grip of a growing humanitarian crisis. Rescue teams in southern Turkey have rescued survivors from the rubble Monday, more than a week after a series of powerful earthquakes struck the region. The rescues came as experts warned the window is closing for finding more people alive in what remains of collapsed buildings.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that aid shortages are taking a growing toll on Somalia's most vulnerable people, leaving them without access to vital healthcare, nutritional support, and safe water. The brutal funding cuts are devastating for severely malnourished children, who have already lost or will soon lose access to life-saving treatment.
The United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) expressed serious concerns regarding the devastating cuts to food rations affecting over 700,000 refugees in Kenya's largest refugee camps on Wednesday. The cuts are a direct consequence of the withdrawal of essential humanitarian aid by the US and other donor governments, resulting in severe funding shortages that threaten the operations of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partner aid agencies.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Monday that UN agencies and their partners, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), are continuing to support the government-led response in Iran as humanitarian needs rise sharply. The recent US-Israeli military assault has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, and caused severe damage to civilian infrastructure across the country.
Rohingya communities in Myanmarâs northern Rakhine State are facing forced labor, food and health crises, severe movement restrictions, and escalating armed conflict, said the rights group Amnesty International on Monday, issuing a warning against premature decisions to repatriate refugees from Bangladesh. This warning comes as the United Nations General Assembly (GA) is set to convene a âHigh-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmarâ on Tuesday.
Afghanistan remains in the grip of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. In 2026, an estimated 21.9 million people â 45 percent of Afghanistanâs population â are in need of humanitarian assistance. The cumulative effects of violent conflict, internal displacement, drought and other natural disasters such as earthquakes have dramatically increased humanitarian needs throughout the country. The surge in the number of Afghans forced or compelled to return to Afghanistan last year has worsened the crisis
At least 8,938 people died on mixed migration routes worldwide in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record, according to new data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM said Friday that the 2024 toll continues a five-year trend of more deaths each year, and that last year's toll surpassed the previous record set in 2023, when 8,747 deaths were recorded.
The deadly Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to spread, with a spike in child infections becoming increasingly likely in the coming days, according to a warning issued by United Nations agencies on Friday. Since the outbreak was confirmed less than a month ago, more than 670 cases and 130 deaths have been reported.
Somalis are facing one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises. This crisis is fueled by conflict, displacement, food insecurity, political instability, climate shocks, extreme weather events, poverty, and economic decline. Although Somalia's humanitarian needs remain high, reduced donor funding since 2025 has forced relief agencies to scale back or shut down critical programs, drastically reducing life-saving operations. Severe drought conditions in parts of Somalia are endangering millions of lives amid dwindling funds. Flooding associated with the anticipated El Niño are expected to worsen the situation from October to December 2026.
The "Illegal Migration Bill", which has now been passed by Parliament in the United Kingdom (UK), is âat variance with the countryâs obligations under international human rights and refugee lawâ and will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker TĂŒrk and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned today. In order for the Bill to come into force, it requires the approval â royal assent - of King Charles III.
