The Asia-Pacific region is home to more than three quarters of the people affected by disasters globally, with events such as earthquakes, flooding, typhoons/cyclones, droughts, volcanic activity and extreme temperatures causing widespread damage to infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods. As the most disaster-prone region in the world, it is also highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Whereas the region has traditionally experienced periodical natural hazards, their frequency and severity have increased. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake of 28 March in Myanmar caused unprecedented loss and damage, with at least 3,800 deaths and nearly two million affected. In 2024, 9.5 million people were impacted by Cyclone Remal and monsoon floods in Bangladesh, tropical cyclones and floods in the Philippines, and Typhoon Yagi and floods in Viet Nam.
These climatic events put the lives of millions of people at risk, drive displacement and severely threaten resilience across the region, often overwhelm national response capacities, and slow down development progress. In countries facing conflict, violence and instability, natural disasters contribute to more complex crises, exacerbating people’s vulnerabilities and exposing many to protection risks. Two countries in the region currently have Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans, Afghanistan and Myanmar, and three countries had Crisis Response Plans in 2025: Viet Nam active until June 2025, Bangladesh active until March 2025 and Philippines active until April 2025. There are also two Regional Response Plans for Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Afghanistan and Myanmar are facing complex humanitarian crises. In Afghanistan, a country with the second highest number of people in need in the world, structural and systemic challenges contribute to further challenges. The country is now confronted with a considerable influx of returnees, straining limited resources. In Myanmar, the conflict has displaced millions, generated food insecurity and limited access to social services.
In light of the Humanitarian Reset and the already pessimistic financial climate, Afghanistan and Myanmar completed a rigorous re-prioritization of their respective responses, focusing on populations with critical life-saving needs. As a result of this process, the number of people targeted decreased in Afghanistan from 16.8 million to 12.5 million. In Myanmar, the number of people targeted initially decreased from 5.5 million to 3.6 million but then went up again as the earthquake affected an additional 1.1 million people.
Access full document on hyper-prioritization.
Asia and the Pacific Plans: 2025
Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans
Afghanistan
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is marked by a lack of essential services, a strained economy, and recurring climatic and seasonal shocks. These issues create chronic needs among large population groups with weakened resilience and coping mechanisms, including vulnerable returnees who may be pushed into acute humanitarian need at any time. Additionally, restrictive policies on women’s rights, movement and participation in humanitarian activities heighten protection risks for women, girls and other at-risk groups, and complicate the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Seasonal and climate-related shocks further exacerbate humanitarian needs across Afghanistan, intensifying already precarious living conditions. Prolonged food insecurity, inadequate water and sanitation and limited healthcare access have significantly increased acute malnutrition rates among children and pregnant women. Returnees from neighboring countries, including undocumented returnees, have also heightened vulnerabilities furtherand increased the need for assistance at border points and in areas of return. An estimated 22.9 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance. For 2025, the total request for humanitarian response is $2.4 billion. Although almost half-way through the year, the HNRP is only 22 percent funded ($534.9 M). During the reprioritization exercise, partners identified $1.6 billion of urgent requirements to assist 12.5 million people.
Myanmar
Myanmar continues to face significant humanitarian challenges, driven by recurrent disasters, persistent conflict, and grave protection risks. Two powerful earthquakes on 28 March caused extensive damage in both populated cities and rural areas, leading to loss of lives, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and disruptions to livelihoods. Humanitarian needs in Myanmar have reached record levels, with 21.9 million people now identified as needing assistance. An estimated 3.5 million people have been displaced across the country, and over 1.1 million refugees are now hosted in neighbouring countries.
For 2025, the total ask for the humanitarian response is $1.14 billion. Although almost half-way through the year, the HNRP is only 12 per cent funded ($136.7M). During the reprioritization exercise, partners urgently identified $691.4 million of requirements to assist 3.6 million people through both plans.
Notwithstanding the devastating earthquake, armed conflict persists and is deepening the crisis in Myanmar. Civilians continue to flee their homes due to ongoing fighting, with the conflict restricting access to life-saving assistance and essential services for affected communities. A surge in aerial attacks and shelling since around mid-April has led to significant civilian casualties, including many children. Food insecurity is a growing concern, particularly for displaced people.
Regional Response Plans
Afghanistan Regional Response Plan
The Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Afghanistan situation 2024-2025 addresses one of the world's most urgent crises, covering the refugee response in Pakistan and Iran. These countries collectively host approximately five million Afghan refugees and refugee-like populations. This two-year plan, now in its second half, brings together 51 partners to provide a regional multi-stakeholder approach to strengthening humanitarian and development responses. In 2025, the plan requires $622 million but faces critical underfunding, securing only 18 per cent of the requirement, leaving a $508 million gap. In response to these severe funding constraints, partners conducted a prioritization exercise to identify the most critical interventions and populations in need, ensuring that core protection activities remain safeguarded. During this exercise, partners identified $226.1 million of prioritized requirements to meet the needs of 5.3 million people, including Afghans of other status and host communities. In 2024, the significant funding shortfall (only 29 per cent funded) severely impacted RRP partners’ ability to provide comprehensive support, leaving many vulnerable refugees and host
Bangladesh Rohingya JRP
Over one million Rohingya refugees remain in Cox’s Bazar and 36,000 on Bhasan Char, with an estimated 150,000 new arrivals undergoing biometric identification. The 2025 Joint Response Plan seeks $934.5 million to support 1.48 million people, including vulnerable host community members. With only 22 per cent funding, this leaves significant gaps in life-saving assistance and services. While halving food rations was postponed thanks to last-minute funding in April, limited support means that food will run out in September and dramatic cuts to liquid petroleum gas, soap and education have to be anticipated. Recent arrivals fleeing the conflict in Myanmar require additional humanitarian support but lack basic assistance, notably shelters as cyclone and monsoon seasons begin. The Government of Bangladesh authorized multi-sectoral aid for new arrivals and land and resources are urgently needed to provide emergency shelter support and life-saving protection and assistance. Increased international support is desperately needed to save lives and prevent a dramatic deterioration of conditions in the world’s largest refugee camp. During the recent reprioritization exercise, partners identified the most critical interventions and populations in need, ensuring that core protection activities remain safeguarded. They identified $455.5 million of priority requirements to assist 1.3 million people.
Asia and the Pacific Requirements and Funding
Total GHO Requirements vs Asia and the Pacific
Total GHO Funding vs Asia and the Pacific
Between 2020 and 2024, humanitarian funding requirements in the Asia-Pacific region averaged about 11 per cent of the global total, with a high of 15 per cent in 2022 and a low of eight per cent in 2020 and 2022. The largest appeal in 2025 is the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Afghanistan which requires $2.42 billion, followed by the Myanmar plan which, including the earthquake response, requires $1.41 billion.
Funding for the region averaged around 11 per cent of the global total, with a low of eight per cent in 2020 and a high of 16 per cent in 2021 and 2022. Regional funding peaked in 2022 at $5 billion, in large part due to funding provided to Afghanistan.
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