The top 10 crises the world can’t ignore in 2025

Each year, the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Emergency Watchlist pinpoints the countries most likely to face escalating humanitarian crises. Considering the likelihood and effects of war, economic instability, climate change and more, the list highlights twenty places that are bearing the brunt of a world increasingly out of balance. Despite comprising only 11% of the world’s population, these countries account for a disproportionate 82% of people in need of humanitarian aid.

Read on to learn more about the top ten countries on the list and find out how the IRC is delivering lifesaving support to the communities most impacted.

10. Somalia: Conflict and drought drive destabilization

For the third consecutive year, Somalia remains on the Emergency Watchlist’s top 10. Al-Shabaab, a powerful armed group, conducted more than 120 attacks in the first nine months of 2024 and its influence could expand as the African Union’s stabilization mission (ATMIS) prepares to withdraw from the country. Meanwhile, rising inter-clan conflict has fueled instability.

Climate shocks also pose an enormous threat to the East African nation. Somalia is still recovering from a catastrophic drought that lasted from 2021 to 2023 and worsened hunger and childhood acute malnutrition across the country. Yet, despite Somalia’s extreme vulnerability to climate change, it has received less than 0.1% of global climate finance funding.

Somalia’s hunger crisis is set to worsen through the first months of 2025 due to both continuing conflict and the impacts of the La Niña weather pattern.

Photo: Shukri Abdulkadir for the IRC

What risks will Somalia face in 2025?

• Escalating conflict could destabilize the country as the government faces growing threats and reduced international support.
• Climate shocks—including droughts and floods—could reverse agricultural recovery efforts, especially as the La Niña weather pattern sets in.
• 1.6 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2024 to 2025, limiting their ability to grow and develop a healthy immune system. Any escalation in conflict or climate shocks could worsen Somalia’s hunger crisis in 2025.
• Even with international debt relief, over 20% of Somalis are still in extreme poverty. Nearly one million people living in Al Shabaab-controlled territories are cut off from aid.

How does the IRC support Somalia?

The IRC started its work in Somalia in 1981, with our current continuous operation beginning in 2007. The IRC works in key regions like Banadir, Puntland, South West, Jubaland and Hirshabelle. We assist families by providing health care for malnourished children, giving cash transfers with no conditions, rehabilitating water sources and offering mobile health services in severely affected areas.

Learn more about the IRC’s Somalia response.

9. Mali: Human rights violations met with impunity

Hunger in Mali is getting worse due to an escalating conflict that has been raging for twelve years. More cities are under siege, with the Malian military government and the Russian Wagner Group fighting against armed factions like the Tuareg forces, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The exit of United Nations and French military support has led to an increase in civilian casualties, with reports suggesting that the Malian military and Wagner forces are now responsible for more civilian killings than JNIM and ISGS. Meanwhile, ISGS and JNIM expanded blockades, cutting off access to food, water and humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of people.

U.N. monitoring groups have reported a 288% increase in human rights violations and a 66% rise in violence against women and girls in Mali from 2023 to 2024.

Photo: Vianey Afangbedji for the IRC

What risks will Mali face in 2025?

• The growing power of armed groups in Mali puts civilians in increasing danger as more towns fall under their control. With these groups operating with impunity, killings, kidnappings and displacement are expected to rise.
• Mali is facing a severe food crisis. Armed groups are attacking granaries and blocking supply routes, while flooding is destroying crops. Over 2,500 people are already experiencing the highest level of food insecurity (IPC 5) and are at risk of starvation. This number is expected to grow as attacks on food supplies and disruptions to distribution continue.
• Mali, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, faced catastrophic floods in 2024 that displaced over 350,000 people. Yet the nation has received only 0.6% of global climate funding. This has left communities without support to address a crisis they did not create.

How does the IRC support Mali?

Since 2012, the IRC has provided aid to over half a million Malians affected by conflict. These communities face severe food shortages and a lack of essential services such as health care and education. To address this, the IRC is collaborating with partners to gather data and improve its malnutrition treatment programs. The goal is to reach and assist more severely malnourished children in Mali and beyond.

Learn more about the IRC’s Mali response.

8. Haiti: Gang violence spurs humanitarian collapse

Gang violence and governmental dysfunction have thrown Haiti into a state of crisis. President Jovenel Moïse's 2021 assassination exacerbated instability. Criminal gangs have grown stronger and more organized, expanding their influence and causing widespread chaos. Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes have worsened the crisis. They have devastated the country, leaving nearly half the population in severe hunger and extreme poverty.

As gangs continue to fight for control over Haiti’s resources and population, 2025 will see high levels of insecurity and disruption to humanitarian aid and economic development.

Photo: UNOCHA/Matteo Minasi

What risks will Haiti face in 2025?

• The current Transitional Presidential Council continues to face shortfalls in restoring security in the country amidst political instability.
• Expansive gang control puts millions of Haitans at risk, as sexual violence, kidnappings, displacement and extortion continue to plague communities, hindering humanitarian efforts and economic recovery.
• Communities will face growing hunger and disease outbreaks as gangs stifle the delivery of humanitarian support and limit residents’ access to health services.
• Poor infrastructure and a limited capacity to mitigate and respond to climate shocks mean that storms or earthquakes will carry devastating human impacts in 2025.

How does the IRC support Haiti?

The IRC has been supporting Haiti since 2010, working with civil society organizations to meet community needs. In December 2022, the IRC launched a new emergency response, partnering with trusted organizations that have long supported Haitians. Together, we focus on cholera prevention, health care, clean water and sanitation, child protection and addressing gender-based violence.

 7. Burkina Faso: Civilians endure sieges and massacres

Burkina Faso remains in the top 10 of the Emergency Watchlist for the third year running. Armed groups, like ISGS and JNIM, have displaced millions. Their brutal campaigns have devastated communities across the country and the wider Sahel region. Armed groups have isolated nearly 40 towns, an increase from just one in 2021. This has cut off about 2 million people from the rest of the country and disrupted vital aid. Attacks on hospitals, schools and communities are putting civilians in greater danger.

Attacks on aid workers are preventing families in Burkina Faso from receiving lifesaving support.

Photo: Sibiri Sawadogo for the IRC

What risks will Burkina Faso face in 2025?

• Civilians in Burkina Faso are facing severe violence from armed groups such as JNIM and ISGS, with over 1,800 civilian deaths recorded in early 2024. Alarmingly, reports suggest the military is involved in mass killings, which could further intensify the conflict into 2025.
• Armed groups are expected to target aid workers, worsening access to humanitarian aid. This makes it difficult to help people in towns that are under siege. 
• Burkina Faso faces climate shocks like flooding and dengue fever outbreak. However, with less than 1% of global climate funding, the country is limited in its ability to deal with future climate shocks.
• An economic crisis could push more people into poverty. Mining exports have been particularly affected. With poverty levels already at 43%, many international partners have stopped providing support. 

How does the IRC support Burkina Faso?

The IRC began emergency response efforts in Burkina Faso in 2019 and launched an official country program in 2020. We provide essential support in health, nutrition, safety, education and economic recovery. We also focus on empowering communities by partnering with local organizations, particularly those led by women, to drive lasting change.

Learn more about the IRC’s Burkina Faso response.

6. Lebanon: Israel-Hezbollah conflict significantly escalates crisis

A deadly new phase of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel pushes Lebanon into the top 10 of the Emergency Watchlist for the first time.

Hezbollah and Israel agreed to a ceasefire on November 27, 2024, bringing a level of relative calm after two months of intense ground combat and airstrikes—and over a year of cross-border fire. However, a ceasefire alone does not end the acute humanitarian need. The conflict caused devastation, forcing 1.4 million people to flee their homes in Lebanon and displacing 60,000 in northern Israel. It also came after a multiyear economic crisis that has weakened the health care system and left record numbers of people going hungry.

Hawra’a and her three children were forced to flee their home in southern Lebanon due to the escalating conflict. A few days after evacuating, the family learned that their home was destroyed by an airstrike.

Photo: Dalia Khamissy for the IRC

What risks will Lebanon face in 2025?

• Any resurgence of conflict in Lebanon would present new threats for the 3.7 million people already in need of humanitarian assistance.
• Lebanon's health care system is collapsing due to conflict and economic strains. Eight hospitals have closed and seven are working with limited capacity. This increases the risk of diseases like cholera spreading. 
• The economy is also collapsing. Food insecurity is rising and 80% of the population was already living in poverty before the latest escalation. The Lebanese pound has lost 98% of its value since 2019, while food prices have risen by 350%. As the situation in Lebanon deteriorates, authorities may pressure Syrian refugees to return to Syria despite ongoing dangers.

How does the IRC support Lebanon?

Since 2012, the IRC has supported Lebanese citizens and refugees. In September 2024, we responded quickly to the conflict, delivering emergency aid. We work with local partners to assist displaced people, providing meals, financial assistance, shelter, hygiene kits and medical care. These efforts have directly reached tens of thousands of people affected by the crisis.

Learn more about the IRC’s Lebanon response.

5. South Sudan: Conflict and climate disaster deepen crisis

South Sudan is in the Emergency Watchlist's top five for the second year in a row. The country faces threats from conflict in neighboring Sudan, political instability and the climate crisis. Violence is widespread, severe annual flooding has caused damage to food production and the country is facing an economic crisis. To add to the challenges, the nation also struggles to meet the needs of 878,000 Sudanese refugees.

Local conflict is likely to worsen in 2025 as economic collapse fuels additional violence in South Sudan.

Photo: Fahmo Mohammed for the IRC

What risks could South Sudan face in 2025?

• The conflict in Sudan is disrupting South Sudan’s oil exports, hurting its economy. The country is facing severe hyperinflation and a falling currency. Food prices have surged by 95% in a year. 
• Political tensions are high. A fragile peace agreement that ended South Sudan's civil war will expire in February 2025. If violence and instability escalate, it could spark a wider conflict. This would displace more people and worsen the humanitarian crisis.
• Violence against aid workers is preventing life-saving support from reaching those in need. Experts project that more than 2.1 million children in South Sudan will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2025.
• Five years of flooding have put 1 million people at risk of waterborne diseases and harmed agriculture. If climate adaptation measures are not taken, more flooding in 2025 will lead to hunger and potentially famine in hard-to-reach areas.

How does the IRC support South Sudan?

Since the conflict in Sudan began, the IRC has been helping refugees and returnees in South Sudan. We provide life-saving health, nutrition and protection services to meet urgent needs and address safety concerns at entry points.

Learn more about the IRC’s South Sudan response.

4. Syria: Surprise offensive threatens progress towards stability

Syria is back in the top five of the Emergency Watchlist, marking its first appearance since 2021. In late 2024, nonstate armed groups launched a surprise attack, triggering a rapid collapse of government forces. The current situation in Syria remains uncertain. Nonstate armed groups now control Damascus, and President Assad has reportedly fled to Moscow. After years of relative stability, the conflict has escalated, affecting millions of Syrians in their 14th year of war. This conflict has led to the world's second-largest displacement crisis, with 13.8 million people forced out of their homes, and pushed the population into widespread poverty. Whether the recent, momentous shifts will allow Syrians to rebuild their lives in 2025 or deepen the crisis remains unanswered. 

Yahya* and his father live in a camp for internally displaced persons near Idlib, Syria. The threat of massively intensified conflict in northern Syria puts families at risk.

Photo: Frontline in focus for the IRC

What risks could Syria face in 2025?

• After fourteen years of conflict, 72% of Syrians (16.7 million people) now depend on aid. The Syrian pound has collapsed because of hyperinflation, making food unaffordable. The 2023 earthquakes affected 8.8 million people and hurt an already weak economy. Children under five face alarming malnutrition rates. Many families have faced multiple displacements. These existing pressures will worsen if the conflict escalates in 2025.
• Uncertainty about Syria’s future could devolve into renewed conflict. In the past, armed groups have fought amongst themselves, and this could happen again. More Turkish action in northern Syria could worsen the crisis and other groups like Islamic State could exploit the chaos and destabilize the region.
• Drought could continue to restrict access to water in 2025. Cholera is already present and could spread quickly in overcrowded camps with limited water access. About half of the health care facilities are not operational. Over one-third of public hospitals are partially or completely out of service.

How does the IRC support Syria?

The IRC has been working in Syria since 2012 and is currently responding to needs in northern Syria, directly and in partnership with local organizations. We provide lifesaving health care, including support for health facilities and mobile health teams. We deliver counseling and protection services for women and children, particularly survivors of violence. We also provide cash assistance, early recovery and early childhood development support.

Learn more about how the IRC is making a difference in Syria.

3. Myanmar: Conflict accelerates nationwide

Myanmar is in the top three of the Emergency Watchlist for the first time due to escalating conflict and climate disasters. Violence has worsened since the military took control in 2021. Long-standing insurgencies have spread and merged into a wider conflict, leading to the displacement of over 3 million people. In addition, cyclones and floods continue to devastate communities. The country's water and health systems, which were already affected by war, are not prepared to handle the increasing needs.

Maw Pray Myar, her daughter and her husband flee the conflict in Myanmar—a fate shared with over 3 million displaced people.

Photo: UNOCHA/Siegfried Modola

What risks will Myanmar face in 2025?

• Widespread violence will continue after a short-lived ceasefire collapsed. Nonstate armed groups are uniting against Myanmar's ruling State Administration Council.
• Cholera and other diseases threaten to overwhelm the health system in Myanmar. It has already experienced over 1,500 attacks since 2021.
• Vulnerable communities in Myanmar could face devastating cyclones and floods in 2025. The country gets just 0.25% of global climate funding. This leaves resilience efforts severely underfunded.
• Increasing violence, red tape and lack of funding make aid delivery harder. In 2025, only a small fraction of the 19.9 million people in need of aid are expected to get support.

How does the IRC support Myanmar?

In 2008, the IRC responded to Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Since then, our efforts have broadened. We help those affected by the 2021 conflict and support displaced communities, covering multiple sectors in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah and Kayin states.

Learn more about the IRC’s Myanmar response.

2. Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt): Gaza devastated while West Bank sees record violence

More than a year of conflict has devastated Gaza. The latest escalation began in October 2023 when Hamas and other armed groups attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 200 hostages. In response, Israel launched airstrikes and ground operations against Hamas, with the conflict sparking an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. 

There is no safe place in Gaza: over 1 in 50 people there have been killed since October 2023. Civilians in the West Bank have also faced record-level challenges due to Israeli military operations and settler violence in 2024.

What risks will the occupied Palestinian territory face in 2025?

• Without a lasting ceasefire, civilian casualties will increase in 2025.
• Almost the entire population of Gaza faces crisis-level or worse food insecurity. Food security experts warn that famine could take hold across all of Gaza if the conflict and restrictions on humanitarian and commercial supplies continue.
• The collapse of the humanitarian system, including hospitals, will leave civilians without the services they need in 2025.
• Rapid settlement growth and land expropriation are expected to fuel tensions in the West Bank. Palestinian communities are at risk of losing access to essential services and the ability to provide for their families.

How does the IRC support the occupied Palestinian territory?

In Gaza, the IRC provides clean drinking water, malnutrition treatment and child protection and mental health services. We also support emergency medical care in the few hospitals still functioning. In the West Bank, the IRC and our partners provide mental health, protection and early childhood development services. We also provide medical supplies and strengthen hospitals for mass casualty care.

Learn more about the IRC’s oPt response.

1. Sudan: Civilians bear the brunt of war

For the second year in a row, Sudan tops the Emergency Watchlist as the country’s brutal civil war continues. Sudan now accounts for the largest humanitarian crisis on record and the world’s largest and fastest displacement crisis. 

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is having a devastating impact on civilians. International humanitarian law is being blatantly ignored. Sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers have become common as both sides regularly target civilians amid reports of ethnic cleansing. Regular attacks on health care and humanitarian aid have left civilians without access to lifesaving services.

There are 11.4 million internally displaced people in Sudan, more than anywhere else in the world. Having been forced to flee their home in Khartoum, Altuma and her children live in this roofless shelter.

Photo: Noory Taha for the IRC

What risks will Sudan face in 2025?

• The brutal civil war is set to continue as warring parties reject diplomacy in favor of continued violence. Civilians will be most impacted as human rights violations go unchecked.
• In 2024, 750,000 people experienced catastrophic levels of food insecurity so severe that people starved to death daily. Famine has been confirmed in specific areas and will spread across Sudan if fighting does not stop. 
• The war has crippled Sudan’s health system. The country is failing to prevent treatable diseases like Cholera, and disease outbreaks are expected to increase in 2025.
• Without swift action to protect humanitarian aid workers and the delivery of aid, many will be left without support.

How does the IRC support Sudan?

When the conflict began in 2023, the IRC adapted our programs and increased our response to meet rising needs. Today, we continue to provide support in Blue Nile, Gedaref, Khartoum, River Nile and White Nile states. We also have a logistics and coordination office in Port Sudan. The IRC is exploring opportunities to expand our presence into other states. 

Learn more about the IRC’s Sudan response.

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Read our full analysis in the 2025 Emergency Watchlist.

*Pseudonym used for privacy