The International Rescue Committee (IRC) released its 2026 Emergency Watchlist on Tuesday, identifying Sudan and Palestine as the two countries facing the greatest risk of a worsening humanitarian crisis. The annual report cites what it describes as growing geopolitical instability and a widening gap between humanitarian needs and available funding.
The report identifies the 20 countries most at risk of deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the coming year. According to the IRC, these nations represent 12% of the global population but account for 89% of all people in need of humanitarian assistance worldwide, totaling nearly 300 million people. The watchlist also notes that 117 million people in these regions are forcibly displaced, and 40 million face severe levels of food insecurity.
In the report’s foreword, IRC President David Miliband stated, “This year’s Watchlist is a testament to misery but also a warning: without urgent action from those with power to make a difference, 2026 risks becoming the most dangerous year yet.”
The IRC attributes the escalating crises to a trend it calls a “new world disorder,” characterized by “intensifying geopolitical rivalries, shifting alliances, and transactional deal-making.” The report highlights actions within the United Nations Security Council, noting that vetoes have impeded international responses to the situations in both Sudan and Palestine.
For the third consecutive year, Sudan was ranked as the top crisis. The country has been in a state of conflict for nearly three years between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The IRC report states that the conflict has killed 150,000 people and displaced more than 12 million. It further reports that 33 million people in Sudan require humanitarian aid, with 207,000 facing catastrophic food shortages. The report also mentions the role of external support, stating, “Large quantities of gold flow out of the country, while weapons move in the opposite direction.”
Palestine was ranked second on the watchlist, also for the third year in a row. The IRC cited the humanitarian situation resulting from the conflict in Gaza and increased violence in the West Bank. The report references casualty figures from Gaza authorities, which state that more than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Looking ahead, the IRC report stated that even if the conflict in Gaza continues at lower intensity, “civilians will face intense suffering and a struggle for survival amid what remains of Gaza.” It noted that as of late 2025, an estimated 641,000 people in the territory were experiencing catastrophic food insecurity. The report attributes ongoing aid challenges to “tight restrictions and militarized delivery.”
Other countries included in the top 10 of the IRC’s 2026 watchlist are South Sudan, Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report also notes a 50% decrease in funding for humanitarian responses, creating a significant gap that limits the ability of aid organizations to address the scale of global needs.
