Amman, Jordan, December 16, 2025 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) released its annual Emergency Watchlist, identifying the 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crises in 2026. The Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen – all featured in this year’s Watchlist - provide stark examples of the devastating impact of what the IRC calls a “New World Disorder.”
- Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory and South Sudan top the IRC’s annual humanitarian crisis prediction for 2026
- Lebanon, Syria countries to watch for 2026, as risks mount in countries like Yemen
- This year’s Watchlist issues the starkest warning yet: civilians in Watchlist countries are on the frontlines of a disintegrating international order.
Amman, Jordan, December 16, 2025 - The International Rescue Committee (IRC) released its annual Emergency Watchlist, identifying the 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crises in 2026. The Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen – all featured in this year’s Watchlist - provide stark examples of the devastating impact of what the IRC calls a “New World Disorder.”
There are currently more active wars than at any point since World War II, some 239 million people need humanitarian aid, and more than 117 million people are forcibly displaced. Home to just 12% of the global population, Watchlist countries account for 89% of those in humanitarian need and are projected to host more than half of the world’s extreme poor by 2029. Yet rather than stepping up to meet the moment, global funding for humanitarian aid has been cut by 50% in the last year. These reductions could cause 1.8 million additional deaths in 2025 alone, including 700,000 children under five.
The Middle East countries account for nearly a quarter of this year’s Watchlist, painting a bleak picture of the “New World Disorder.” Ceasefire in Gaza has yet to deliver the promised levels of aid, as harsh winter conditions threaten even more lives. Lebanon teeters on the precipice of renewed conflict, while 80% of its population struggles with poverty and cannot meet basic needs. Yemen faces record levels of hunger and severe underfunding, while the country’s fragile stalemate risks collapsing back into open conflict. One year after the fall of Assad’s government sparked hope for millions, Syria remains deeply fragile - nearly 17 million people depend on humanitarian aid to survive, while returnees struggle to rebuild their lives.
David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC, said:
“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 it. 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.”
Mark Kaye, IRC’s Regional Policy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, added:
“Across the Middle East, we see an escalating need for life-saving interventions: whether in Gaza, where aid still fails to reach those in desperate need; in Yemen, where half of all humanitarian assistance has been cut; or in Syria, where communities struggle to rebuild against the odds. As global aid budgets shrink, people in Watchlist countries are being pushed even deeper into crisis.
Yet the evidence from the IRC’s work worldwide offers hope - and a proof that the world can counter the ‘New World Disorder.’ The IRC’s Watchlist sets out a practical agenda for responding to today’s crises and building a fairer global system. We call for renewed diplomatic efforts, stronger protection for civilians, accountability for violations, and an aid system that better supports those most in need.”
Notes to editors:
The full IRC Emergency Watchlist 2026 report can be accessed here.
This year’s top ten Watchlist countries are:
- Sudan
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- South Sudan
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Myanmar
- DRC
- Mali
- Burkina Faso
- Lebanon
Second half:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Colombia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Yemen
About the IRC
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and in 28 U.S. cities helping people to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power.