The United Nations recently released a report, titled “Alert, Early Warning and Readiness Report,” which details their assessment of current or potential global crises in the next six months. These crises are likely to require billions in humanitarian aid because frankly, things aren’t looking good.
They highlighted political conflicts, either current or forthcoming, that could affect large numbers of people. These include the tense negotiations in Libya breaking down and resulting in a military coup, or Boko Haram militants as well as local militias in Nigeria and neighboring countries continuing to engage in violence and human rights violations against civilians.
They also pointed out the difficulty of performing humanitarian activity around the globe, where conflict is making that more difficult. They brought attention to the recent American airstrike in Afghanistan which destroyed a Doctors Without Borders hospital. Aid workers have decreasing access to the people they are trying to help in a world that seems to have more and more people in need of that help on an almost daily basis.
One good note is that tensions in Ukraine are expected to ease as Russian forces are redeployed to Syria, instead of supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Still, as conflict ramps up in Syria, this is likely to be a wash. The political crises alone threated to put about 1.9 million people in need of humanitarian aid.
The numbers are even worse for natural disasters, as El Nino is forecast to cause extensive damage. Around 500,000 people in the Horn of Africa alone are expected to seek international food aid. 4.1 million people in the South Pacific Islands, as well as another several million in parts of southern Africa will also be put at risk by he weather phenomenon.
If you are someone prone to donating to humanitarian causes, consider looking for organizations likely to help in these situations now. Or, if you wait until such events occur to help, be sure to do some research and support organizations that are actually helping, as fraud is rampant during situations like these.