2025 is shaping up to be a critical year for global humanitarian crises, with 305 million people worldwide in need of urgent assistance. In an already worrying climate of insufficient funding, the United States has decided to temporarily suspend foreign aid disbursements. Still, there are fears of an overall cut that would put millions of vulnerable people at risk.

 

Escalating conflicts, the pervasive food security crisis, the devastating effects of climate change and mass displacement paint a bleak picture for the year ahead. The South-East Africa region is expected to be the hardest hit, hosting 85 million people in need, with the Sudanese crisis alone accounting for 35% of this total. The Middle East and North Africa follow closely, with 59 million requiring urgent aid.

2024 saw unprecedented levels of violence and displacement, and without immediate action, 2025 threatens to be even more catastrophic. The number of forcibly displaced people have increased for twelve consecutive years, reaching almost 123 million by mid-2024. The global food insecurity crisis is equally alarming, affecting over 280 million people every day, exacerbated by conflict and displacement. In addition, some 400 million children, about one in five worldwide, live in or flee from conflict zones. With the world approaching the +1.5ºC warming threshold, the looming threat of climate change further compounds these challenges, increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

As needs increase, however, they are unfortunately not matched by increased funding for humanitarian aid. In an already worrying climate of insufficient funding, the US government has decided to suspend foreign aid disbursements for a 90-day review period and freeze ongoing foreign assistance programs, depriving millions of people of the chance to receive life-saving aid. While this is an evolving scenario, the biggest concern is that this halt will translate into an overall cut in funding from the United States after the review period, with a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation around the world since 43% of total funding for humanitarian aid now comes from the USA.

 

INTERSOS’s priority crises

In this complex and volatile scenario, INTERSOS has identified several priority crises requiring immediate efforts in 2025.

 

Africa

The conflict is expected to continue in Sudan with no political resolution in sight. In nearly two years of conflict, more than 11.7 million people have fled their homes to escape violence, and hunger has reached catastrophic levels, with 25.6 million people in a condition of food insecurity, of whom 8.5 million are in a state of emergency. INTERSOS is focusing on scaling up operations to deliver assistance effectively and safely, strengthening our response capacity, expanding our team and developing strategic partnerships. Another key priority for INTERSOS will remain the Sahel, where political instability, conflict, violence, and food insecurity are causing increased forced displacement and protection needs. The effects of climate change further exacerbate tensions between communities struggling for scarce resources. Here, we aim to improve our access capabilities to reach the most vulnerable communities. Furthermore, the wave of violence that has engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent months is worsening one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world and a protection crisis of alarming proportions. In 2025, INTERSOS will work to strengthen its presence in the country, particularly in the areas of protection, health, food security and access to water and sanitation.

Middle East

The end of 2024 saw radical changes in the Middle East. In Syria, after 14 years of conflict, systemic instability, economic collapse and humanitarian crises, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime ushered in a period of unprecedented change. The unpredictable political climate in the country requires a flexible approach, and INTERSOS is preparing for various scenarios, including potential refugee returns and the risk of new conflicts. In Lebanon, on the other hand, thanks to the ceasefire agreement, many people have returned to their homes or have begun to rebuild them. However, the Israeli armed forces have not yet withdrawn from several areas of the country, and violations of the terms of the agreement have continued since the beginning. Even with a ceasefire in place, the situation in Lebanon remains fragile, and the potential influx of returning Syrian refugees could drastically change the humanitarian landscape. INTERSOS is also working to strengthen its presence in Yemen, where the humanitarian crisis shows no sign of abating, and 19.5 million people will need urgent aid in 2025, more than one million more than in 2024. US choices also risk seriously aggravating the situation since over 50% of aid programs in the country were funded by American contributions until now.

Asia

Two other contexts that will remain central to INTERSOS’s operations in 2025 are Afghanistan and Ukraine. In Afghanistan, four decades of conflict and crises have created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions of people living in poverty, half the population lacking adequate access to food and a destroyed health system. INTERSOS, which has been operating in the country since 2001, can count on a strong presence on the ground and well-established food security and access to care programs. In Ukraine, on the other hand, the ongoing conflict is likely to evolve following the US elections: the potential peace negotiations already envisaged could paradoxically lead to intensifying fighting, with the aim of each of the two sides to strengthen their positions. INTERSOS is preparing for increased activities on and near the front line.