In 2026, millions of people caught in conflict and disaster face their hardest test yet: survival. Funding cuts in 2025 stripped away lifelines, even as crises deepen. Yet, the global humanitarian community is determined to stand with them—from local organizations aiding their own communities, to international partners delivering where it is needed most.
In 2026, humanitarians will aim to collectively assist 135 million people, out of 239 million people in need, with the immediate priority being to save 87 million lives. The Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) 2026 remains ambitious while simultaneously grounded in the harsh reality facing humanitarian action after a year in which thousands of staff were laid off and tens of offices were closed around the world. In 2026, humanitarian partners aim to assist almost 20 per cent more people (117 million) than were reached in 2025 (nearly 98 million people) through country-specific responses. The GHO includes 29 plans and appeals, covering 50 countries: 20 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans, 3 Flash Appeals and 6 refugee and migrant response plans that cover an additional 27 countries.