Sudan, Haiti, and the Sahel Face Catastrophic Humanitarian Collapse in 2026
The IRC Emergency Watchlist 2026 has named Sudan, Haiti, and the Sahel among the 20 countries where humanitarian crises will worsen most severely next year. Millions face displacement, starvation, and violence as conflicts escalate, governance collapses, and global cooperation weakens. Meanwhile, Germany is pushing for a UN Security Council seat while navigating a shifting world order marked by impunity and eroding multilateralism.
In Sudan, over 13.6 million people have been forced from their homes, with 9.3 million displaced internally. The war's spillover has destabilised neighbouring Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, where refugees are straining already fragile systems. Haiti's state has nearly collapsed, with armed gangs controlling 90% of the capital. Hunger is surging—5.7 to 6 million people face acute food shortages—while child recruitment by gangs has tripled. Funding for aid has hit record lows, with only 26% of the $908 million humanitarian plan secured.
Across the Sahel, jihadist groups like JNIM and IS-Sahel now dominate vast areas. Chad alone hosts over 2 million displaced people, including 1.5 million refugees. Food shortages, malnutrition, and cholera outbreaks are worsening as Western military withdrawals leave local juntas struggling to govern. Unlike conflicts in South Sudan or Afghanistan, these crises are defined by state failure, territorial control by non-state actors, and mass displacement—all fuelled by a growing culture of impunity.
Germany's bid for a UN Security Council seat comes at a time when global norms are fraying. The country's Foreign Office and development ministry are undergoing reforms, presenting both risks and opportunities. Experts argue that humanitarian crises are not just distant tragedies but early warnings of broader governance collapse. To counter emerging threats, Berlin is urged to invest in climate resilience, public health, and economic stability—measures that reinforce societal cohesion.
Yet Germany cannot act alone. The report stresses the need for EU-wide cooperation, stronger multilateral institutions, and new alliances to combine military strength with human security. Prioritising short-term threats while ignoring long-term stability would be self-defeating. Instead, sustainable security depends on collective norms, reliable partnerships, and sustained funding for global public goods.
The IRC's findings highlight a world where hundreds of millions endure unaccountable power, war profiteering, and eroding rights. For Germany, the path forward involves cost-effective aid, civil society partnerships, and diplomatic pressure—including UN reforms to limit veto powers in atrocity cases. Strengthening multilateral accountability and investing in human security could help Europe counter the rising tide of instability. Without coordinated action, the crises in Sudan, Haiti, and the Sahel will deepen, further unravelling global order.
