BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - Violence, displacement and hunger will drive record humanitarian needs in 2018, with nearly 136 million people worldwide in need of aid, according to the United Nations.
The U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has appealed for a record $22.5 billion for humanitarian responses across the globe.
Protracted conflicts in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yemen, the Rohingya exodus from Myanmar and natural disasters exacerbated by climate change are among many crises.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation asked aid agencies to name their top priorities for 2018:
Mark Lowcock, Head of OCHA and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
1) The 91 million extremely vulnerable people in 26 countries that we aim to reach in 2018 through U.N.-coordinated humanitarian response plans.
2) Internally displaced people — chiefly because of conflict, there are 40 million people displaced within their own countries.
3) Reform — to make the humanitarian system as effective and responsible as possible.
Bryce Perry, deputy director of emergencies
In 2018, the IRC will continue to focus on the Central African Republic (CAR) and other countries experiencing severe humanitarian crisis including:
1) Yemen — with a civil war raging, Yemen continues to be at the top of the list as humanitarians struggle to deliver aid in response to extreme food insecurity, disease outbreak and a collapsed economy.
2) The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — we remain concerned about the DRC given the persistent political instability, a highly vulnerable population and continued unrest in multiple parts of the country.
3) Rohingya crisis — the last few months have seen hundreds of thousands of Rohingya flee extreme violence in Myanmar to seek safety in Bangladesh. Humanitarian needs have quickly outstripped available aid resources and this crisis will remain a priority for the year to come.
Nigel Timmins, humanitarian director
1) Yemen — without a political settlement in sight, the conflict looks set to continue. Meanwhile, the conflict has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the world's largest cholera outbreak and is on course to create the world's worst famine.
2) Northern Nigeria — Over eight million people are dependent on life saving aid as the conflict in northern Nigeria reaches its eighth year, with no sign of abating. Unable to grow or buy food, millions are going hungry. Close to 1.7 million people have fled their homes, and with the security situation remaining fragile, many more will continue to do so.
3) Syria — the devastation and suffering delivered by six years of war in Syria is staggering and relentless. Three quarters of Syrians have been affected, 13.5 million people are in need of assistance and five million have fled the country.
Jean-Michel Grand, executive director
1) The Rohingya crisis — Action Against Hunger has some of its largest relief operation in Bangladesh for the Rohingya refugees, but in 2018 we may see the first movement of population going back to Myanmar. As one of the few NGOs allowed to work in Rakhine state, Action Against Hunger will focus on helping people to return safely and restart their lives.
2) Yemen — this will remain a top priority.
3) Syria — With the recent territorial gains on ISIS and the partial withdrawal of Russia, there are uncertainties about the future of the Syrian refugees and internally displaced people.
Nick Guttman, Head of Humanitarian
1) Our Democratic Republic of Congo Kasai response is not yet adequately funded. But in 2018 we will be looking to raise funds in order to increase our response.
2) Ongoing emergency responses in conflict environments — northeast Nigeria, South Sudan and the Rohingya crisis both in Bangladesh and where possible in Myanmar.
3) Humanitarian advocacy — we will continue to prioritize "localization" (in which local organizations are given a central role in a humanitarian response).
Jan Egeland, secretary general
1) Strengthen our efforts to protect and assist more needy people in hard-to-reach war zones where too few organizations can operate today.
2) Continue to work for a way out for people in protracted displacement. We will work for durable solutions, whether through return, resettlement or local integration.
3) Focus on using data and technology to better let displaced people help themselves. Education and livelihoods as well as cash grants enables people to make their own choices.
Mike Noyes, head of humanitarian response