This Tuesday, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) released its annual Emergency Watchlist for 2026, once again naming Sudan as the most at-risk country facing a deepening humanitarian crisis. It marks the third consecutive year the war-torn nation has topped the list.
Since conflict broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, more than 12 million people have been forced from their homes. Displaced families endure scarce food, shelter and healthcare, often while facing violence on perilous journeys.
"What the IRC is seeing on the ground is not a tragic accident. The world is not simply failing to respond to crisis; actions and words are producing, prolonging, and rewarding the crisis," said IRC President and CEO David Miliband. He described Sudan's situation—the largest humanitarian emergency ever recorded—as a "signature of this disorder" in global affairs.
Sudan leads a broader group of 20 countries that represent just 12 percent of the world's population yet account for 89 percent of those in need of life-saving assistance. Other African nations in the top ten include South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The IRC warns that without intensified international support, these 20 watchlist countries are projected to host over half of the planet's extreme poor by 2029. Outside Africa, high-risk regions span Myanmar, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Colombia, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen.
For a generation of globally minded citizens, entrepreneurs and activists, the IRC's Emergency Watchlist offers a data-driven lens on where urgency is greatest—and where innovative solutions and sustained advocacy can make a real difference. As 2026 approaches, amplifying attention and resources could be pivotal in turning the tide for millions on the brink.
What strategies or innovations do you think could help alleviate these crises? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
Reference(s):
Sudan tops International Rescue Committe’s humanitarian crises list
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