The conflicts, natural disasters, and severe hunger that marked 2025 will continue to have devastating impacts on families around the world in 2026. Humanitarian aid funding cuts have stripped away the lifelines of many and made it harder for families to survive and thrive.
In places like Sudan and Gaza, conflict continues to claim lives, rip families apart, and deepen famine. The death toll in Gaza is reported to be upwards of 100,000. Meanwhile, in Sudan, respect for civilian life is nonexistent as indiscriminate violence ravages communities.
In other places, such as West Africa and the Caribbean, the impacts of climate change are wreaking havoc. Stronger, more frequent floods are destroying crops, homes, and businesses in Nigeria and surrounding countries. Intense hurricanes are devastating island nations like Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas.
The outlook for 2026 is dire, with millions of people needing urgent assistance:
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295 million people face high acute food insecurity
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117 million people are forcibly displaced by conflict and violence
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49 million people have been affected by weather-related disasters |
In Syria, Fatima* pours water for her daughter Farah*, provided by Mercy Corps in the displacement camp where they live.
With the help of our generous donors, partners, and communities we serve, Mercy Corps is taking action to make a difference for families throughout 2026. We will continue to:
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Deliver clean water and sanitation to communities affected by crisis: In places like Syria, where both conflict and severe weather have uprooted families, Mercy Corps provides water trucking and sanitation services for families in displacement camps, with water deliveries four days per week. |
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Develop solutions to food insecurity and malnutrition: In Ethiopia and other regions affected by crisis, we’re helping farmers expand, providing them with the training, tools, and seeds they need to grow more food for their families and communities. |
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Create opportunities for economic security: In Ukraine, we’re helping families who have fled from the war re-establish their lives and livelihoods, helping them to open small businesses. |
As we reflect on the different crises around the globe, Mercy Corps is racing to reach families wherever they are to ensure their survival in 2026. Do you know how many people will need humanitarian assistance this year?
Sincerely,
The Mercy Corps team
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