The Global Humanitarian Overview is an annual assessment of global humanitarian needs and how to respond to them. This document provides an analysis of the drivers of needs and an overview of the resources required to support people targeted for assistance. It also provides an account of the humanitarian system’s collective achievements.
Summary
In 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other drivers.
In the coming year, 74.1 million people will need humanitarian assistance in East and Southern Africa. The crisis in Sudan accounts for almost 40 per cent of this total. In-country requirements for Sudan, and the whole region, have increased since the conflict erupted in August 2023, with a massive outpouring of people to neighbouring countries. Sudan is experiencing a precipitous rise in needs from 15.8 million people in 2023, to a staggering 30 million people in 2024. In West and Central Africa, 65.1 million people are in need, and the crises in Burkina Faso and Niger have expanded and have intensified, driving increased needs compared to 2023. In the Middle East and North Africa, 53.8 million people require assistance, with the crisis in Syria resulting in 32.5 million people in need, both inside Syria and neighbouring countries. In Asia and the Pacific, 50.8 million people are in need, of whom 30.6 million is due to the Afghanistan crisis. In Myanmar, needs have risen as the crisis deepened. The Latin America and the Caribbean region is now home to 38.9 million people in need, 15.9 million of whom are impacted by the Venezuela crisis and in Eastern Europe, 16.8 million people are still in need because of the war in Ukraine.
There are three main drivers of these needs:
- Conflict: the world is experiencing more conflicts, which are more entrenched, with devastating consequences for civilians.
- The global climate emergency: the climate crisis is spiraling, leaving a trail of destruction in its path.
- Economic factors: economic dynamics are overlapping with conflict, climate disasters, infectious disease outbreaks and others, as a significant driver of humanitarian need.
As a result, more people are displaced now than at any other time since the beginning of the century. Acute food insecurity is a reality for 258 million people in 58 countries. Disease outbreaks are causing significant loss of life. However, although increased conflict, the global climate emergency and other drivers are causing needs to skyrocket in many places, the number of people identified as being in need has decreased in several countries between 2023 and 2024.
Humanitarian response
In 2024, the UN and Partner Organizations are appealing for $46.4 billion to assist 180.5 million people across 72 countries. This year’s global appeal reflects extensive efforts by humanitarian partners to prioritize response in areas where people face the most life- threatening needs.
The collective work of humanitarian partners will remain focused on delivering better for people in crisis in 2024, including through:
- Acknowledging and centering the work of local and national actors in humanitarian action.
- Pursuing people-centred and accountable responses.
- Promoting quality and inclusive responses, including through the use of cash.
- Prioritizing humanitarian diplomacy.