After a year of severe drought, flash floods have killed at least 77 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Afghanistan.

The IRC conducted a multi-sector needs assessment in 2024, covering the sectors of Protection, Health, Education and Economic Wellbeing, to identify key needs to support humanitarian program design in the coming period. Findings show that humanitarian needs are at an all time high, particularly impacted by shifts in the context in 2023, including the earthquake in Turkiye and the highest levels of violence seen across northern Syria since 2020. Millions of individuals continue to be unable to meet their basic needs.

Lalla, a 40-year old mother to six, was forced to flee with her family when conflict broke out. Now living on the outskirts of Meneka, a town in the southeast of Mali, she talks about what she's gone through, how the IRC is helping, and why she never fails to smile.