For the second consecutive year, Sudan has ranked first on the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) annual global humanitarian crisis watchlist, underscoring the devastating impact of conflict and instability. Released on Wednesday, the 2025 watchlist also highlights other critical hotspots, including Gaza and the West Bank, Myanmar, Syria, and South Sudan.
The IRC, a New York-based humanitarian aid organization, initiated this watchlist over 15 years ago as a tool to guide internal planning. However, CEO David Miliband emphasized its growing importance as a global call to action, urging coordinated efforts to address escalating humanitarian crises.
Humanitarian Need Reaches Record Highs
The report paints a sobering picture: 305.1 million people worldwide require humanitarian assistance in 2025, a staggering increase from 77.9 million in 2015. The 20 countries on the IRC’s watchlist account for 82% of this dire need. Miliband described the figures as “crushing,” noting the paradox of unprecedented resources being available to help, yet the gap between humanitarian needs and funding continues to grow.
“There are more resources to do more good for more people than at any time in history. This makes it all the more bewildering that the gap between humanitarian need and humanitarian funding is also greater than ever,” Miliband wrote in the report.
Sudan: A Country in Ruins
Sudan’s ongoing crisis is described as the largest humanitarian disaster since records began. Despite comprising just 1% of the global population, the country accounts for 10% of all people in humanitarian need. The collapse of services across health, education, and infrastructure has left Sudan in ruins, a situation exacerbated by a power struggle that erupted in April 2023.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, triggered during a planned transition to civilian rule, has caused mass displacement, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world.
“The total collapse of services is devastating lives,” said the report, adding that the suffering of the Sudanese people is a direct result of the regime’s failures, not the actions of the population.
Global Hotspots Beyond Sudan
While Sudan remains the most pressing concern, other countries on the watchlist are grappling with severe crises. These include:
- Middle East: Gaza and the West Bank, Syria, and Yemen face ongoing conflict and humanitarian challenges.
- Africa: Nations like Somalia, Chad, Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso continue to suffer from instability, food insecurity, and displacement.
- Asia: Afghanistan and Myanmar remain plagued by political turmoil and violence.
- Europe: Ukraine persists as a humanitarian hotspot due to the ongoing conflict.
- The Americas: Haiti struggles with political instability and violence.
Urgent Call for Global Action
The IRC’s watchlist underscores the urgent need for global attention and funding to address these crises. While humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels, the widening gap between resources and aid delivery remains a critical challenge.
Miliband’s message is clear: the world must step up to bridge this gap and provide hope to millions suffering across these nations. “This is a moral and practical imperative,” he concluded, stressing the need for collective action to mitigate these crises.
Full List of Countries on the IRC Watchlist
In addition to the top five, the watchlist includes Lebanon, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali, Somalia, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Yemen.
