Humanitarianism is a concept based on the recognition of human worth and dignity, emphasizing the imperative to save the lives of all individuals in need, irrespective of any discrimination. So, what are the humanitarian crises occurring worldwide in 2023?

Once every year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA publishes a report called the “Global Humanitarian Overview.” This report offers an insightful snapshot of the current humanitarian landscape. According to this report, the major humanitarian challenges facing the world in 2023 include:

1. Refugee Crisis: Political and economic upheavals in countries like Myanmar, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Venezuela, and others have forced many individuals to cross borders, seeking support and protection.

The Global Humanitarian Overview 2023 reveals that over 130 million people, representing more than 1% of the global population, have been displaced. Of these, nearly two-thirds are refugees and asylum seekers originating from nations grappling with food crises. Furthermore, almost a quarter of all refugees are hosted in the least developed countries.

2. Food Crisis: Conflict, climate-related disruptions, and the looming threat of a global economic downturn have contributed to what is now considered the most significant global food crisis in recent history.

The Global Humanitarian Overview 2023 highlights that, by the close of 2022, at least 222 million individuals across 53 countries will be confronting severe food insecurity, necessitating emergency assistance. In particular, 45 million people in 37 countries are at risk of experiencing famine.

3. Climate Crisis: The repercussions of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and typhoons continue to be observed in various regions, primarily due to climate change. These have led to issues like water scarcity and crop damage, especially in parts of Africa and Asia.

According to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2023, 12 out of the 15 countries most susceptible to climate change have witnessed internationally coordinated humanitarian responses.

Alarmingly, by the end of this century, the number of heat-related deaths is projected to rival the combined fatalities from all cancers and infectious diseases.

(Source: FAP)

Women selling vegetables and spices in a refugee camp in Oualam, Niger.

In August 2023, a coup d'état in Niger led to a severe food security crisis. Even before the coup, Niger was already facing severe ongoing food insecurity, with more than three million people affected.

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Challenges Facing Humanitarianism

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The notion of humanitarianism, rooted in the principle of prioritizing the well-being of people, faces a multitude of daunting challenges. Despite its crucial significance, humanitarianism efforts grapple with various issues, including political exploitation, resource scarcity, and the safety of activists.

1. Political Exploitation and Manipulation

Humanitarian principles are at times exploited or manipulated by certain countries or groups for political gain. For instance, Iran has been accused of ongoing human rights violations, including the imprisonment of over 7,000 political dissidents as of 2018, according to Amnesty International.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is renowned for defending women arrested for not wearing a hijab in public and juvenile death row inmates. She had received a harsh sentence in 2018 – 38 years in prison and 148 lashes – for allegedly “threatening public order” and “insulting Iran’s supreme leader.”

·☞ Suggested Solution: It is imperative for the international community to collaborate in establishing and upholding universally recognized principles and regulations.

2. Lack of Funding and Resources

While humanitarian needs are escalating worldwide, funding and resources consistently fall short.

In 2023, global humanitarian funding requirements surged to $55 billion, up from $41 billion at the beginning of 2022. However, data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that less than 30 percent of these funds were actually secured. Providing essential support to individuals facing life-threatening circumstances should be a collective responsibility of the global community. However, as of 2023, humanitarian aid continues to be predominantly provided by the top 10 donors, who contribute 82.4% of all funding.

·☞ Suggested Solution: To address this issue, mechanisms should be established to efficiently pool and distribute resources among diverse stakeholders, including international organizations, governments, private enterprises, and individuals.