In 2021, there are still a great number of humanitarian crises around the world, many of which were heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are more than 10 crises that require assistance around the world today, many of them with concerns about basic human rights infractions, like the right to food, shelter and safety.
Here are five humanitarian crises going around the world right now.
Ethiopia
Since November 2020, Ethiopia has entered a humanitarian crisis, focused on the northern Tigray region.
There have been constant conflicts between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, as well as a food and drought crisis.
Currently, there are more than 45 thousand refugees that have fled to Sudan, 96 thousand refugees from Eritrea hosted in the region, as well as 100 thousand internally displaced people.
Venezuela
Social unrest due to economic collapse, lack of jobs and high food prices are some of the reasons that have driven the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. In addition to that, violence around the country has deepened the crisis.
As a result, this has become some of the biggest displacement crises at the moment. Currently, there are more than five million people displaced, and over 800 thousand people seeking asylum.
Yemen
Yemen has been topping the humanitarian crisis list for the third year in a row. According to the United Nations, over 80% of the population needs assistance.
There have been more than five years of armed conflict. According to the International rescue committee, over 40% of airstrikes during the conflict have happened in residential areas. Conflicts over food and oil control have increased recently.
Currently, there are more than 20 thousand Yemenis displaced over the world and more than 200 thousand people seeking refuge in Yemen, many of which fled the Horn of Africa.
Syria
Since 2011, Syria has been a great focus for humanitarian aid.
What has now evolved to a multi-sided civil war began with protests during the Arab Spring that expressed discontent with the current Syrian government. Now, Syria is considered one of the deadliest countries in the world.
Now, there are more than 13 million people in need of aid in Syria, with more than six million people internally displaced and more than two million people in areas of difficult access.
There are more than three million refugees inTurkey and in Lebanon, more than 70% of refugees live below the poverty line.
Democratic Republic of Congo
In between 2017 and 2020, not only the Democratic Republic of Congo had to deal with a severe hunger crisis, but they also had to deal with the second-hardest ebola outbreak in history.
In addition to that, they are still fighting a polio outbreak that began in 2018 along with concerns from seasonal droughts and floods. The political unrest and lack of government support make the region even more unstable and susceptible to armed conflicts.
Now, there are more than 918 thousand refugees from DRC around the world, five million people displaced around DRC and 500 thousand asylum seekers inside DRC.
References:
https://www.concernusa.org/story/worlds-worst-humanitarian-crises/
https://www.rescue.org/article/top-10-crises-world-should-be-watching-2021