Humanitarian need has increased fourfold in the past decade with over 340 million people in need of assistance worldwide. As we enter the new year, this trend seems unlikely to be curbed; 2023 is shaping up to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. Multiple crises across the globe have impacted international aid organisations predicting rises in civil conflict and gender-based violence as well as record breaking levels of world hunger. The impact of climate change only adds fuel to the fire of these issues which collectively have forced over 16 million people from their homes and into a state of displacement. As illustrated in the three country reports below, those who stay in vulnerable regions struggle to meet their daily needs.
YEMEN
Topping the list of worrying countries is Yemen. Yemen’s population has suffered through seven long years of internal conflict. This has forced over 4.3 million people into a state of internal displacement and led over 300,000 people to leave the country as migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Numbers will likely increase as the conflict continues to block essential supplies from reaching those most in need. Over 80% of the population lives in extreme poverty and approximately 2.2 million children are acutely malnourished.
The plight in this region is worsened by the impact of climate change. Seasonal rains, windstorms, landslides, and flooding ravage the landscape. The volatile weather makes living in this region dangerous at best and serves to accelerate the growing displacement of Yemens. Exodus from the country has led to many Yemeni people settling in neighbouring countries where they often meet extreme xenophobia and even violence.
SOMALIA
Somalia also faces extreme strife in the coming year. 2021 marked the 30-year of civil conflict in the country. Three years later, not much has changed. The protracted conflict hardest hits civilians here. Somalis daily endure violence that humanitarians label war crimes. Abuse against children is rampant in the region. Children, moreover, are often used as tools of war. They are attacked in schools and on the streets, often killed, and maimed. Many children and teens are also forced to become child soldiers. Accounts of gender-based violence are also harrowing with federal authorities doing little to curb the situation.
Somalia is also in the middle of a historic drought. According to the International Rescue Committee, the country is currently in their fifth consecutive failed rainy season. Desperate conditions have led humanitarians to predict that over eight million people will be in crisis levels of food insecurity by the middle of the year. Food insecurity is a result of both climate changes and unrest. Collectively, Somalia produces less than 50% of the food goods it did before the war began. Conflict also prevents aid from reaching those most vulnerable and aid workers often report being unable to deliver goods due to risks to their own safety. Post-pandemic price increases also impact the ability of Somalis to purchase food. Again, this is heightened by external issues. Over 90% of wheat entering the region was sourced from Russia and Ukraine. The invasion of Ukraine has cut back the limited food once available. Approximately 200,000 people are now facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, this is the most severe classification and the most fatal.
UKRAINE
One of the most surprising regions on international watch lists is Ukraine. Since the conflict began in early 2022, nearly 8 million people have been forced to flee. The 17.9 million who remain are living in extreme conditions. Homes and infrastructure have been damaged and destroyed during the conflict. Electricity and water have been cut in many areas. In the middle of winter with temperatures dropping these cuts could be deadly. Healthcare, public transportation, and internet services have also been disrupted. Combined, lack of access has left many Ukrainian families unable to meet their daily needs as food, water, and medicine become increasingly scarce. Before the conflict, Ukraine was one of the largest producers of wheat contributing nearly 10% of the world market, feeding 400 million globally. As mentioned, Ukraine’s inability to produce food impacts not only Ukrainians but also other countries like Somalia that were once reliant on this industry. Of the 17.6 million Ukrainians who will require humanitarian support in 2023, 3.2 million of those are children.
OTHER AREAS OF CRISIS
Unfortunately, these are just three of many countries slipping ever closer towards collapse. The IRC lists an additional 7 on their top ten watchlist including: Ethiopia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Haiti. Other experts would also include Lebanon, Myanmar, Venezuela and other Sahel countries including Mali, Chad, Niger, and Sudan.
Though each of these regions faced nuanced issues, armed conflict, economic turbulence, and climate insecurity, all play major roles in pushing these vulnerable populations into further despair. As we wade into 2023 we must consider not only the whys that led us here, but also the hows that can affect change. Many protective “guardrails” were allowed to deteriorate in the years leading up to this global crisis, and these must again take priority as we move forward to protect those most at risk.
FINAL THOUGHTS
According to the World Economic Forum, 100 million people worldwide are impacted by conflict and climate insecurity. Over 16 million people are displaced worldwide. 79 million more will need humanitarian aid in the coming year; 35 million of these people are children. These numbers will only continue to grow with inaction.
For this, in 2023 MOAS will go on with our mission to alleviate human suffering and will continue to ship food aid deliveries in Yemen and Somalia to combat malnutrition in children. In Ukraine, the #MOASMissionUkraine won’t stop providing emergency medical care and assistance to the people impacted by the conflict and cut off from health services. We hope to make a difference and, with your help, save as many lives as possible.
If you are interested in the work of MOAS and our partners, please follow us on social media, sign up to our newsletter and share our content. You can also reach out to us any time via [email protected]. If you want to support our operations, please give what you can at www.moas.eu/donate