WASHINGTON: The year 2025 has emerged as one of the harshest in recent history for poor and conflict-affected countries, as prolonged wars, climate shocks and deep cuts in global aid converged to create what humanitarian agencies describe as a “new world disorder.”
According to the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), 61 wars were ongoing across 36 countries in 2024—the highest since World War II—and most of these conflicts dragged on into 2025, intensifying displacement, hunger and instability. Save the Children estimates that wars left 60 million children starving this year, while the World Food Programme (WFP) projects 318 million people will face crisis-level hunger in 2026.
Sudan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with up to 70 percent of its population needing urgent aid. Climate change has further worsened food insecurity in countries such as Kenya and Somalia.
Compounding the crisis, major donor nations sharply reduced foreign aid in 2025, forcing agencies like WFP, Oxfam and Mercy Corps to scale back life-saving programs. Aid groups warn that without urgent funding, millions more will face hunger, disease and displacement in the coming year.
