Global Humanitarian Overview 2026

Asia and the Pacific

Regional overview

Asia and the Pacific remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, accounting for an estimated 75 per cent of people affected by disasters globally. The region faces overlapping and compounding shocks driven by extreme weather events and protracted conflict and tensions.

Climate change is increasing the intensity and scale of disasters - turbo-charging annual cyclone seasons with more destructive storms; and more severe swings between flooding and drought. The shifting weather patterns are also disrupting livelihoods and undermining traditional resilience. The region presents an ever-present threat of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. According to EM-DAT data, as of 14 November 2025, natural disasters affected more than 29.3 million people in 17 countries in Asia-Pacific region causing the 8,800 deaths and 13,600 injuries.

Humanitarian requirements across Asia and the Pacific reflected the scale of overlapping crises, with needs rising to nearly 44 million people and more than 26 million people targeted for assistance through response plans in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. Disaster events have led to an overstretch of humanitarian systems, with many country and regional mechanisms operating under severe funding constraints.

Damaged building with collapsed walls and debris scattered on the ground after a flood or landslide, with several people standing near the structure

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Devastating flash floods and landslides affected more than 6.9 million people in Pakistan.

UNICEF Pakistan

In 2025, the region faced intensifying climate-related disasters, including one of Pakistan’s worst monsoon flooding seasons in decades, and an exceptional typhoon season with consecutive cyclones affecting millions of people in the Philippines and Viet Nam, with over 29.3 million people affected by natural disasters.

This year also saw an increase in conflict, both in the intensifying civil war in Myanmar and its regional spill-over effects, but also a series of border conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan, India and Pakistan, and Thailand and Cambodia. Low-level conflicts also continued in Mindanao, Philippines and communal violence in Papua New Guinea. As of 14 November 2025, nearly 7.0 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are in the region with well over 4,800 civilian fatalities reported due to conflict in Asia-Pacific countries. Throughout these crises, the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) remained central in shaping coordinated, agile and climate-responsive approach.

In 2026, the region is expected to face recurring and overlapping disasters, magnifying pre-existing stresses on communities and increasing humanitarian needs.

Afghanistan

  • Current People in Need
    21.9 million
  • Current People Targeted
    17.5 million
  • Current Requirements (US$)
    $1.71 billion
  • Current People Hyper Prioritized
    3.9 million
  • Current Hyper Prioritized Requirements
    $465.2 million
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GHO estimates at launch (8 December 2025)

People in Need
22 million
People Targeted
17.6 million
Requirements (US$)
1.7 billion
People Hyper Prioritized
3.9 million
Hyper Prioritized Requirements (US$)
375.9 million

Crisis overview

The crisis in Afghanistan is rooted in the aftermath of decades of conflict, recurrent exposure to natural disaster-related shocks, chronic poverty and underdevelopment, limited access to essential services and systematic human rights abuses and violations particularly targeting women and girls. With nearly 70 per cent of Afghans living in poverty, daily life is a struggle for survival, characterized by dire food shortages and essential nutrition. Food insecurity has deepened compared to last year, now affecting 17.4 million people. At the same time, rates of acute malnutrition are rising: 3.7 million children are affected, including 1.65 million at high risk of mortality, while 1 million pregnant and breastfeeding women require urgent nutrition support across many provinces.

The situation has severely eroded coping mechanisms. Recurrent droughts, seasonal flash floods, earthquakes and other natural hazards continue to push communities into life-threatening conditions. Climate change is intensifying these shocks, with declining rainfall and rising temperatures. In spring 2025, a severe drought devastated rainfed crops, resulting in major harvest losses and prompting unsustainable groundwater extraction as water tables dropped sharply. Millions of farming and livestock-dependent families lost their primary sources of income and food production, driving increased food insecurity, migration and displacement.

In August 2025, a magnitude 6+ earthquake struck the eastern region, flattening entire villages in remote, impoverished areas. It was among the deadliest in Afghanistan’s recent history with humanitarian needs expected to continue well into 2026 as thousands remain displaced in camps and informal settlements. A second 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the northern region on 3 November. Although less destructive overall, it served as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability, situated atop three major fault lines. In total, Afghanistan has experienced four earthquakes exceeding 6+ magnitude in the past four years, each affecting different regions of the country.

Myanmar

  • Current People in Need
    16.2 million
  • Current People Targeted
    4.9 million
  • Current Requirements (US$)
    $889.6 million
  • Current People Hyper Prioritized
    2.6 million
  • Current Hyper Prioritized Requirements
    $521.1 million
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GHO estimates at launch (8 December 2025)

People in Need
16.2 million
People Targeted
4.9 million
Requirements (US$)
890 million
People Hyper Prioritized
2.6 million
Hyper Prioritized Requirements (US$)
521 million

Crisis overview

Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis has continued to deepen due to intensifying conflict, recurrent natural disasters, and steady economic collapse. In the first half of 2025, Myanmar ranked second globally for conflict intensity and fourth most dangerous country for civilians, with more than half of the population exposed to conflict. The security situation for civilians is deteriorating, protection risks are severe, and the resilience of communities is stretched to breaking point.

In March 2025, a devastating earthquake struck central Myanmar. The disaster impacted key agricultural regions, destroying crops, irrigation systems, and grain stores—threatening food security for 2 million newly affected people. The earthquake damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of houses, dozens of roads and bridges, and nearly 70 health facilities, severely disrupting access to essential services.

References

  1. ACLED https://acleddata.com/update/asia-pacific-overview-november-2025