More than 239 million people worldwide require urgent humanitarian assistance and protection as 2026 begins, marking what experts describe as the most severe global humanitarian crisis since World War Two, according to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2026.
The staggering figure represents those facing the most critical, crisis-driven needs, but humanitarian organizations warn this is only "the tip of the iceberg of global suffering." Beyond these immediate crises, over 1.1 billion people across 109 countries face acute multi-dimensional poverty, with more than 400 million children globally living without access to basic necessities like nutrition and sanitation [Global Humanitarian Overview 2026].
Conflict and Climate Drive Crisis
Two primary factors are fueling the unprecedented humanitarian needs, both of which experts emphasize are "man-made and could be reversed with concerted and collective action." Conflict remains the leading cause of death, displacement, and hunger globally, while climate change continues to escalate unabated [Global Humanitarian Overview 2026].
From Haiti to Myanmar, Ukraine to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, violent conflicts are lasting longer and proving more devastating to civilian populations than at any time since World War Two. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns of four converging trends pushing the world toward "deeper instability and human suffering" [ICRC].
"War without limits equals suffering without end," said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric, highlighting how respect for international humanitarian law is weakening as military objectives increasingly take precedence over civilian protection [ICRC].
Sudan Crisis Exemplifies Global Challenge
Sudan represents the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with the conflict between national forces and paramilitary groups nearing three years. Famine conditions have spread across the country, displacing 11.5 million people, including over four million who have fled to neighboring countries [The New Humanitarian].
The International Rescue Committee's 2026 Emergency Watchlist identifies 20 countries at risk of worsening humanitarian crises, with the top 10 nations representing just 12 percent of the global population yet accounting for 89 percent of worldwide humanitarian need [IRC].
Funding Shortfalls Hamper Response
Despite rising needs, humanitarian funding faces significant constraints. Global aid cuts in 2025 have left millions without assistance, with women and girls in overcrowded shelters facing particular threats as violence, trafficking, and early marriage increase while funding decreases [IRC].
Historically, the United States has been the largest humanitarian aid contributor through private donations, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom, with the European Union ranking fourth. Most aid has traditionally flowed to Yemen, Syria, and Iraq [Iberdrola].
The COVID-19 pandemic previously demonstrated how quickly humanitarian needs can escalate, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting a 41 percent increase in people requiring aid between 2020 and 2021 [Iberdrola].
Outlook for 2026
Humanitarian organizations emphasize that neutral, impartial humanitarian action is increasingly being "politicized, manipulated or obstructed," with access to people in need critically restricted in areas like Gaza and Al-Fashir [ICRC].
As international funding and political attention continue to decline, tens of millions of people face deepening hunger, displacement, and violence throughout 2026, challenging the international community's commitment to "leave nobody behind" as outlined in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.