The Biggest Humanitarian Crises of 2021

The world is unfortunately never short of a humanitarian crisis, and 2021 was of course no exception. According to UN data analyzed by Statista, the ongoing situation in Yemen had left over 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Ethiopia saw the largest increase compared to 2020 - a 166 percent change equating to more than 21 million people in need due largely to fighting between government forces and rebels from the Tigray region.

The situation in Afghanistan is also dire for millions of people. As reported by the UNHCR in December, the food crisis in the country, now under Taliban control, has reached "truly unprecedented levels". Over 8 million people are thought to be at risk of famine. As we previously covered, the UNHCR has a global fundraising winter campaign to "help ease the burden for forcibly displaced families amid the most life-threatening months of the year". The funding needs in 2022 are forecast at $374.9 million.