Sudan, facing the world’s most severe internal displacement crisis, has once again topped the annual Emergency Watchlist of countries expected to experience worsening humanitarian conditions in 2026.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) released the list on Tuesday, highlighting the 20 nations at greatest risk of humanitarian deterioration in the coming year.
Sudan has held the top position for the third year in a row. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank — grouped together by the IRC — ranked second, followed by South Sudan.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, remains in a deadly stalemate with little prospect for resolution.
Sieges have left entire cities cut off from aid, and escalating clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) threaten to spread violence further across the country, the IRC said.
Millions of Sudanese are at risk from extreme violence, hunger, and disease, according to the IRC report titled “New World Disorder.”
The United Nations has also identified the conflict in Sudan as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis since it began in April 2023.
The fighting has displaced around 12 million people, while nearly every second resident faces hunger, the report notes.
“This year’s Watchlist serves both as a record of suffering and a warning: without urgent intervention, 2026 could become the most perilous year yet for Sudan,” said IRC President David Miliband.