What is a humanitarian crisis?

From conflict and natural disasters to hunger and displacement, we’re at a critical point for humanitarian crises. Here’s what that phrase means, how these crises develop, how organisations like Concern respond, and how you can help. 

A humanitarian crisis is an event (or series of events) that poses a critical threat to the health, safety, security, and/or well-being of a large group of people.

There’s no universal definition of a humanitarian crisis, and the term is often used interchangeably with “humanitarian emergency” or “humanitarian situation.” 

We usually break down crises into one of three categories: natural disasters, man-made emergencies, and complex emergencies.

Natural disasters are events caused by natural processes within the Earth and its ecosystems. These can look like:

• Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions (geophysical disasters)
• Floods and avalanches (hydrological disasters)
• Storms, hurricanes, and cyclones (meteorological disasters)
• Droughts (climatological disasters)
• Epidemics, infestations, and pandemics (biological disasters)

While these events can’t be prevented from happening, their impacts on people and communities can often be reduced. In some cases, these events can be tracked in advance or occur seasonally (such as droughts, which develop over years, or hurricanes and cyclones). Other times, as with earthquakes, they happen with little to no warning. 

» Learn more about some of the most common natural disasters facing the world today

These are events that we have more control over and are prompted by human activity. Often when we think of man-made emergencies, we immediately think of war or conflict. This is a key example, but not the only one. Others include:

• Civil unrest and armed violence from non-state groups
• Pollution, environmental degradation, and man-made fires
• Infrastructure and industrial accidents, including plane and train crashes

For example, the 2020 explosion in Beirut was a man-made crisis — and one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The industrial accident began with a fire that led to the explosion of tons of combustible chemicals that had been improperly stored in a warehouse. 

Complex emergencies are the result of multiple disasters or emergencies occurring in an area where there is, as the UN puts it, “a total or considerable breakdown of authority.” These emergencies often lead to:

• Extensive violence and loss of life
• Displacement of populations
• Widespread damage to societies and economies
• The need for large-scale humanitarian assistance
• The hindrance or prevention of humanitarian assistance by political and military constraints
• Significant security risks for humanitarian relief workers in some areas

The number and scale of these complex emergencies has surged in the past two decades with the rise and intensification of conflicts. As Kirk Prichard, Vice President of Programmes for Concern Worldwide US, notes, they are also impossible for NGOs to solve on their own: “We can only tackle the immediate humanitarian needs. In complex emergencies, NGOs are unfortunately more of a band-aid than they are a suture.”

Globally, humanitarian crises affect more people today than at any other point in recorded history, with hundreds of millions facing emergencies each year. 

The largest impacts are faced by those with the fewest resources and coping mechanisms, or those who are “furthest behind” (either in terms of resources or literally in terms of people living in rural or hard-to-reach areas). 

This is especially true for people living below the poverty line, both in their communities and in low-income countries. Children, women, the elderly, and the disabled are all examples of groups who often face higher risks in an emergency. Ultimately, however, the people most affected are those who need the most support in the aftermath or ongoing progression of a crisis.

Humanitarian responses will look different depending on the context, but there are several common needs in the aftermath of an emergency.

Cash is essential during a crisis, especially if banks are closed and ATMs aren’t functioning. Cash transfers have become one of the most reliable forms of humanitarian aid as they allow families to get exactly what they need based on their own situations, support local markets, and can be distributed through bank transfers or mobile phones.

People are often displaced during a crisis, either temporarily or longer term. Shelter is key for these situations (especially for refugees entering a new country). In tandem with that is protection within displaced communities to prevent physical, mental, or sexual harm, especially among women and young children. This is especially true in situations where refugee or displacement camps are necessary. 

Emergency food assistance, either provided as actual products or vouchers for local markets, and general health and nutrition support is also one of the frontline responses in a crisis. Sometimes additional health services will be needed if people are injured during an event, but there are also considerations for day-to-day care — especially for expectant mothers and people with chronic illness or disabilities. 

If an emergency means prolonged school closures, alternative programmes will need to be set up to keep children in the classroom (even if it’s a virtual one). Beyond that, however, we also look to set up safe spaces for children to play and programmes for those who may need psychosocial support after experiencing something like a natural disaster or conflict. 

Also known as WASH services, this is also a critical component of emergency response, especially in cases where infrastructure is destroyed. People need clean water for drinking and cooking, as well as for basic hygiene needs and sanitation services. 

Beyond water and sanitation, disasters often lead to road closures, power and fuel outages, and loss of critical transportation. These are often critical elements to ensure that other forms of aid can go where they’re needed. During an emergency response, these are all assessed and prioritised for repair and rehabilitation.

As crises become more protracted and complex, we also need to look at the financial needs of families beyond the immediate benefit of cash. This is especially true for disasters that affect farmers, as their livelihoods are tied up with their food security and their land. If an emergency leads to prolonged displacement, families may also be limited in what work they can take on — especially in different countries. 

More than half of the 241.2 million people who will require at least one form of humanitarian assistance in 2026 live in just six countries: Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, and South Sudan.

But that’s not the whole story. Many of the worst humanitarian crises in the world in 2026 have fewer people in need, but those numbers constitute the overwhelming majority of a country. These also only account for the highest levels of need, meaning that there are thousands (if not millions) more who will not qualify for emergency assistance, but still struggle to survive. 

» Learn about the 10 largest crises in 2026

Additionally, we’re now at a point in humanitarian response where need has risen but funding has dropped. That has led to more situations becoming “forgotten” humanitarian crises (which really means underfunded and under-covered in international news). Out of the spotlight, these crises can continue for decades without a clear resolution in sight. 

» Learn more about the “forgotten” crises that we cannot ignore in 2026

Concern is a dual-mandate organisation, meaning that we respond to both emergency situations and long-term development needs. Often we cover both areas at the same time to ensure that communities can continue without our support.

» Read our play-by-play of how Concern responds to an emergency

When an emergency strikes, we seek out the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach communities to meet their immediate needs, and work with them to design innovative, fast, and effective responses. We stay with them to help rebuild their lives and to ensure that they are more able to cope with future crises.

In 2024 alone, Concern responded to 66 emergencies in 20 countries, reaching 15.5 million people. Individual supporters form the backbone of our humanitarian aid, supporting rapid responses and long-term programmes that help people to sustainably recover from conflict, climate disasters, and more.

You can help us reach even more people in 2026.