The world's worst humanitarian crises in 2025 reflect a troubling trend of escalating conflicts, economic instability, and climate-induced disasters. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview, 34.8 million people faced critical humanitarian needs due to overlooked emergencies in 2024 alone.

Sudan remains the most severe humanitarian crisis in 2025, with 30.4 million people – over 63% of the population – in need of aid. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has devastated the country, displacing 5 million people and worsening food insecurity.

Syria remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises in 2025, with 16.7 million people in need of aid and 17.6 million displaced Syrians requiring assistance. More than 90% of the population lives in poverty, and much of the country's infrastructure remains in ruins.

Gaza is also severely affected, with 3.3 million Palestinians – over 63% of the population – requiring humanitarian aid. After more than a year of violence, 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced.

Ukraine is another country struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis, with 12.7 million people requiring humanitarian aid, and 2.2 million displaced abroad. Worsening conditions, including electricity and fuel shortages, add to the ongoing hardship.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is also facing a severe crisis, with 21.2 million people in need of humanitarian aid, and 2.1 million displaced. Escalating violence over land, natural resources, and ethnic disputes has worsened the decades-long crisis.

Afghanistan remains in crisis, with 22.9 million people in need of humanitarian aid, and 7.3 million displaced abroad. After more than four decades of conflict, the country continues to struggle with political instability and ongoing hardship.

Yemen is another country facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with 80% of the population requiring aid, and 19.5 million people in urgent need. The conflict has devastated food systems, infrastructure, and the economy, worsening living conditions.

Ethiopia faces multiple humanitarian emergencies in 2025, driven by conflict in Amhara, climate change, disease outbreaks, and economic hardship. At least 10 million people need aid, with the UN allocating $2 billion for relief efforts.

South Sudan's humanitarian needs have worsened due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, adding to existing crises of insecurity, violence, displacement, hunger, and flooding. In 2025, 9.3 million people within the country and 4.3 million displaced South Sudanese require assistance.

Chad is also facing a worsening crisis, with 7.8 million people requiring aid in 2025. The country hosts nearly 2 million refugees from Sudan, straining resources, especially in the Lake Chad Basin. Conflict, hunger, and climate change have compounded the crisis.

These humanitarian crises are driven by four major global imbalances: increasing conflicts, escalating attacks on civilians, worsening climate change effects, and growing economic inequality. Together, these factors have resulted in an alarming concentration of humanitarian needs.

Addressing these crises requires urgent humanitarian aid, policy reforms, and a commitment to protecting civilians, ensuring economic stability, and mitigating the effects of climate change. Despite the severity of these crises, many remain underreported, leaving millions without global attention or urgent aid.

According to ReliefWeb, 34.8 million people faced critical humanitarian needs due to overlooked emergencies in 2024 alone. Africa remains the epicenter of these crises, with conflicts, hunger, and climate-related disasters devastating countries.

Major conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to drive mass displacement and suffering. The world's worst humanitarian crises in 2025 are a stark reminder of the need for collective action to address these pressing global issues.