John, the IRC's 2026 Emergency Watchlist sounds the alarm on a dangerous divergence: as humanitarian crises surge, global support is collapsing.
Take a look at the top crises the world can't ignore in 2026:
Haiti descended into political chaos following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Governmental instability and deep economic hardship have allowed armed gangs to expand their control and influence. Gangs now control nearly all of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city, and are expanding their reach outward. 6.4 million people—more than half of Haiti's entire population—are in need of humanitarian support.
Domestic and regional tensions are increasing instability in northern Ethiopia and could escalate into a large-scale conflict. Ongoing fighting by armed groups continues to displace civilians. Climate shocks like droughts and floods worsen the humanitarian situation. With significant aid cuts, including a $387 million reduction from USAID in 2025, humanitarian agencies are struggling to respond to multiple overlapping crises at once.
South Sudan is at risk of sliding back into civil war, as the 2018 peace agreement collapses and the current government breaks down. Meanwhile, the civil war in neighboring Sudan has led to an influx of refugees, increasing tensions and disrupting South Sudan's vital oil exports, which is hurting the economy and fueling unrest. Relentless annual flooding is devastating food production and has trapped millions in a deepening crisis.
Two years of conflict have destroyed the basic conditions needed to sustain life in Gaza. Famine conditions are still a deadly reality, with almost 55,000 children facing acute malnutrition and more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip facing catastrophic conditions characterized by disease and destitution. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinian families face rising threats from raids and settler attacks, with nearly 40,000 people displaced since early 2024.
Sudan ranks atop the IRC's Emergency Watchlist for the third year in a row, as the country most likely to experience a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. Sudan’s catastrophic civil war has killed over 150,000 people since April 2023 and is preventing lifesaving aid from reaching communities in need. The conflict has also triggered a devastating food crisis, forcing regions of Sudan into famine and causing deaths every single day.
Despite the challenges, the IRC is on the ground in every single country on this list, delivering lifesaving aid to the communities most impacted. Your compassion and kindness powers this work—and we couldn't be more grateful for your support. 💛
Learn more about the countries most likely to face a worsening humanitarian crisis in 2026 and find out how the IRC is responding.
—Heidi @ IRC
P.S. When crises escalate and funding collapses, monthly donations help the IRC to respond immediately and stay for the long haul, wherever the next emergency hits. John, please consider starting a monthly gift to fuel our response year-round.
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