Humanitarian crises projected to affect millions in Pakistan and Ethiopia

A report by Action Against Hunger indicates that approximately 10.6 million people in Pakistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. The country is identified as one of ten nations facing the world's largest food crises. Factors driving food insecurity in Pakistan include persistent poverty, high inflation, rising living costs, and economic instability. Environmental challenges, such as floods, droughts, and erratic monsoon rains, further damage agricultural production and infrastructure. Additionally, local instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has hindered market access and humanitarian efforts.

In Ethiopia, the United Nations has allocated $8.5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to support humanitarian operations in the Tigray, Amhara, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. This funding aims to assist over 202,700 people with urgent needs in water, sanitation, healthcare, nutrition, and shelter. The allocation follows recent clashes between federal and Tigrayan forces, which have exacerbated a crisis marked by displacement and disease. UNICEF estimates that nearly 8.9 million people in Ethiopia, including 6.3 million children, will need assistance in 2026.