Sudan leads IRC’s 2026 emergency watchlist, with Gaza second and South Sudan third, amid warnings of worsening humanitarian conditions.
NAIROBI: Sudan has been ranked first on the annual Emergency Watchlist of countries where humanitarian conditions are expected to deteriorate further in 2026.
The list, published by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), identifies the 20 most at-risk nations for the coming year.
This marks the third consecutive year Sudan has topped the ranking, with the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank placing second, followed by South Sudan.
The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, remains locked in a brutal stalemate with no apparent prospect of de-escalation.
Sieges have cut entire cities off from humanitarian assistance, while further escalation risks spreading violence to additional areas.
Millions in Sudan are exposed to extreme violence, hunger and disease, according to the IRC report titled “New World Disorder.”
The United Nations has described the conflict as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Fighting has displaced around 12 million people, while every second resident is threatened by hunger.
“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,” IRC President David Miliband said. – Bernama-dpa
