Global Humanitarian Overview (2024)

The Global Humanitarian Overview is an annual assessment of global humanitarian needs and how to respond to them. This document provides an analysis of the drivers of needs and an overview of the resources required to support people in need of humanitarian assistance. It also provides an account of the humanitarian system’s collective achievements.

In 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other drivers such as:

1. Conflict: the world is experiencing more conflicts, which are more entrenched, with devastating consequences for civilians. In 2023 alone, the eruption of widespread conflict in Sudan and hostilities between Israel and Gaza caused a dramatic spike in civilian deaths. 
2. The global climate emergency: the climate crisis is spiraling, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. It is expected that 2023 will be the hottest year on record with concurrent climate disasters, from Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Southern Africa to the wildfires in Europe and the devastation wrought by Storm Daniel in Libya. 
3. Economic factors: economic dynamics are overlapping with conflict, climate disasters, infectious disease outbreaks and others, as a significant driver of humanitarian need, and are either a primary driver, or strong contributor, to rising needs in several crises.

Click here to read the report in full. Arabic, English, French and Spanish versions are available to download.