The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) 2026 Emergency Watchlist highlights the world’s most pressing crises, describing a “New World Disorder” in which humanitarian needs are surging while global support is collapsing. This annual report identifies countries at greatest risk of new or worsening emergencies and calls attention to urgent global problems that require immediate action.
Armed conflicts are at record highs, with more active wars than at any point since World War II. One in seven people globally now lives under the threat of armed conflict. Wars are becoming more widespread, persistent, and deadlier, causing unprecedented humanitarian fallout. Diplomatic solutions such as ceasefires are increasingly difficult to achieve in a landscape dominated by shifting alliances and transactional deal-making.
At the same time, global humanitarian aid is being cut even as needs grow. The United States and other major donors have reduced funding for essential programs, including maternal and child health, malaria, tuberculosis, and epidemic surveillance. Only a small fraction of aid now reaches fragile and conflict-affected countries, despite these areas containing half of the world’s extreme poverty population. These cuts are projected to result in millions of preventable deaths in the coming years.
Hunger is becoming deeper and more concentrated in crisis-affected countries. In 2026, 37 million people face IPC Phase 4 emergency-level food insecurity, the highest figure since 2021, with most cases occurring in Watchlist countries. Malnutrition and extreme food gaps continue to threaten lives, particularly among children, and are exacerbated by ongoing conflicts.
Forced displacement has reached record levels, with 117.3 million people uprooted worldwide in 2025. Around 80% of these displaced people come from conflict-affected countries, with women and children making up the majority. Conflicts in Sudan and Gaza illustrate the scale and speed of these crises, where millions have been displaced internally or across borders.
Climate change is driving extreme weather events, including severe droughts and floods, which threaten food security, livelihoods, and economic stability. Countries such as Afghanistan are experiencing the worst droughts in decades, while flooding in South Sudan destroys crops and property. Despite these escalating threats, only a small portion of climate funding is directed toward adaptation programs to protect vulnerable populations.
The IRC emphasizes that these crises, while overwhelming, have solutions. Addressing them requires investing in proven interventions, such as simplified treatments for childhood malnutrition, and adopting forward-looking policies to support conflict resolution and strengthen humanitarian responses. The IRC continues to provide healthcare, education, and economic empowerment for people affected by crises, focusing on sustainable impact, particularly for women and girls, across more than 40 countries.
