Five key lessons that could save lives as COVID-19 spreads to countries

The United Nations recently warned that “famine is at the door” in Somalia, where millions are already nearing starvation. Other countries and regions around the world, including Africa’s Sahel region and Afghanistan, also face crisis-level food insecurity. One common thread across these contexts and crises is that children will be the most impacted.

2023 has been a turbulent year, and the IRC predicts humanitarian crises like Gaza and Sudan will worsen in 2024. But while the headlines worldwide may be dire, there are still many positive stories and uplifting moments from 2023 worth remembering.

A record high of 110 million people have fled their homes in search of safety and stability. This is more than any other time since World War II.

In Syria, more than a decade of war has brought the country's health system to the brink and left millions of people facing a spiralling economic collapse. Around 90% are living below the poverty line, and many are struggling to meet their most basic needs. A cholera outbreak, which began in August 2022, is exposing the fragility of Syria’s water supply and health care systems and the impact this has on the lives of vulnerable families.