This week’s Friday Humanitarian Scan (13-20 March 2026) covers 66 articles across 10 sources. The Middle East crisis continued to escalate, with the WFP warning that the conflict could push 45 million more people into acute hunger; if instability persists beyond mid-year, this would be the worst disruption to humanitarian supply chains since COVID-19. Food prices are surging across the region as Eid approaches, hitting families who have already been stretched thin by years of war. In Beirut, UN Secretary-General Guterres demanded an end to the widening conflict, warning that southern Lebanon “risks being turned into a wasteland,” while in Gaza the Rafah crossing briefly reopened after a 20-day suspension. Elsewhere, the conflict in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has now displaced nearly 268,000 people, and a drone strike in Ukraine killed two women during a humanitarian evacuation (a grim reminder of the cost borne by civilians and aid workers on the frontlines). The New Humanitarian also published an investigation revealing that an aid group had been funnelling donations to Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers; the organisation has since scrubbed at least 20 posts from its public content.
March 13, 2026 – March 20, 2026
This week’s scan covers 66 articles from 10 sources.
Country: Iraq Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. A significant escalation in regional tensions occurred on 28 February 2026 following coordinated military strikes by the United States of America and Israel inside Iran which triggered subsequent retaliatory missile and drone activity across multiple countries in the region. In Iraq, the security situation remains fluid, with disruptions affecting airspace, civilian mobility, and humanitarian access
Countries: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Sources: Logistics Cluster, World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file.
Countries: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Afghanistan, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory Source: Save the Children LONDON/GENEVA 19 March 2026 – Food prices have surged in some of the most food-insecure countries in the Middle East and wider region due to the ongoing conflict, threatening to push the most vulnerable families further into hunger as Eid approaches, Save the Children said. Families already struggling after years of conflict and economic shocks have told Save the Children staff t
Country: Iran (Islamic Republic of) Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. KEY HIGHLIGHTS WFP warns that continued escalation in the Middle East risks becoming the most severe disruption to humanitarian supply chains since COVID‑19 and the Ukraine war, with potential spillover effects on the global economy and fertilizer markets. If instability persists beyond mid‑year, an additional 45 million people could potentially be pushed into acute hunger in 2026. In Iran, WFP pr
The UN Secretary-General on Saturday called on the international community to intensify support for the Government and people of Lebanon, warning that the south of the country “risks being turned into a wasteland.”
The Middle East war could cause the worst disruption to lifesaving humanitarian work since COVID, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday, as the UN chief again demanded an end to the widening conflict.
Humanitarian needs are continuing to grow again across Gaza, the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said on Wednesday, amid mounting pressures on aid delivery and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The international community must step up efforts to support Syria amid the current conflict raging in the Middle East, two senior UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday.
The Rafah crossing into Gaza reopened on Thursday for limited movement in both directions after a 20-day suspension, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Countries: Lebanon, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Please refer to the attached Map.
Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. HIGHLIGHTS Amid escalating regional tensions, humanitarian cargo continues to enter the Gaza Strip through a single operational crossing (Kerem Shalom), constraining the flow of goods and reducing both humanitarian and commercial supply volumes. This has a disproportionate impact on northern Gaza, where the closure of the Zikim crossing forces aid to take longer, more costly routes-delaying de
Where US pooled fund cash isn’t going, “reset” hurdles, and what HNPW says about humanitarianism’s crossroads.
One NGO has deleted and edited at least 20 posts about donations to Israeli soldiers and illegal settlements or work in Israeli-occupied Syria.
The liberation of territory from gangs and a more “motivated and visible” police presence has provided a “glimmer of hope” for Haiti as the Caribbean island nation continues to struggle with violence, insecurity and poverty.
Two weeks into Israel’s rapidly escalating bombardment and ground incursion in Lebanon, more than one million people have been forced to flee their homes. Entire villages across south Lebanon have …
Since January, heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding throughout Colombia. The Córdoba department is particularly affected. There, the German and Colombian Red Crosses are providing emergency assistance to over 167,000 people, with EU support.
Brexit was ‘a colossal mistake’, says President Stubb of Finland – but Europe should build a flexible partnership with the UK News release jon.wallace 17 March 2026 During a speech at Chatham House the president outlined why the EU must embrace ‘flexible integration’ to forge closer relations with the UK and countries like Ukraine. President Alexander Stubb visited Chatham House on 17 March 2026 to discuss EU-UK relations, EU enlargement, ‘flexible integration’, Brexit and other issues. Describi
One year after the United Nations launched its UN80 reforms, it has a unique opportunity to reform colonial-era policies on staff pay.
Climate change and armed conflict increasingly intersect in humanitarian settings. While the sector is now alert to climate-related risks – particularly in disaster response, resilience programming, and displacement governance – the ways these risks are interpreted and operationalized vary across institutional mandates and operational contexts. In protection practice within conflict-affected settings, climate impacts are still… The post When the perpetrator is the climate appeared first on Hum
Just as some refuse to mention Israel when condemning killings in Gaza, this civilian atrocity is being greeted with bland statements and obfuscation.
Countries: Libya, World Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. IOM Libya’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme identified a total of 939,638 migrants across 100 municipalities in November and December 2025. The largest groups were from Sudan, Niger, Egypt, Chad, and Nigeria, with most migrants residing in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misrata. Economic challenges continued to be the main driver of migration to Libya, while conflict related arrivals,
Country: Mozambique Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. In February, the humanitarian situation was marked by a combination of public health challenges, displacement-related vulnerabilities, and ongoing emergency response activities. In Nampula province, the expansion of the cholera outbreak raised concerns among health and WASH partners. By the end of February, the Ministry of Health reported confirmed cases in nine districts: Ilha d
Country: Mozambique Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. Humanitarian operations remain highly fragile due to multiple overlapping risks. In February, humanitarian access in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces was constrained by ongoing violence against civilians, armed hostilities, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), cholera-related misinformation, heavy rains, and logistical challenges. These factors continued to hinder the delivery
Country: South Sudan Source: Médecins Sans Frontières 19 March 2026 – “I have lived through many wars, but this kind of displacement has never happened before,” says 77-year-old Moses, who fled his home in Lankien, Jonglei State. “I have never seen civilians’ homes burned to ashes on such a scale. We are now living under the trees.” An escalation of violence between government forces and opposition groups in and around Lankien in Nyirol County, Jonglei State and along the Sobat River in Upper Ni
Country: South Sudan Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. HIGHLIGHTS As of 19 March, Akobo Town remains empty. Civilians reportedly lack confidence in the security situation, with most people staying outside the town, mainly toward Tirgol in Ethiopia. Verified data from IOM indicates that nearly 268,000 people have been displaced across Jonglei, Lakes, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria States. About 132,000 people lost access to health
Country: Ukraine Sources: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Please refer to the attached files. An evacuation team from the national NGO Proliska Humanitarian Mission came under fire while conducting an evacuation of older civilians from the town of Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka. The drone strike killed two women and injured two other evacuees who were seeking safety and fleeing intensified hostilities in the area. The van’s roof
Country: Pakistan Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Severe rainfall and thunderstorms have been affecting Karachi, the capital of Sindh province in southern Pakistan, since March 17, causing weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage. As of 20 March, according to media, a total of 19 people died, including 13 in Mawachh Goth Baldia area due to a wall collapse, and six others in separate incid
Country: Malawi Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Heavy rainfall has been affecting Malawi since 16 March, causing flash floods that have resulted in casualties and widespread damage. The most impacted are Blantyre City, Blantyre District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Karonga, Lilongwe District, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Phalombe, Zomba City, and Zomba District. As of 19 March, the Internation
Country: Spain Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Heavy rainfall and strong winds have been affecting the Canary Islands since 19 March, causing travel disruptions and damage. On 17 March, the Specific Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan for Adverse Weather Phenomena (PEFMA) and the Flood Risk Emergency Plan (PEINCA) were activated in the Canary Islands under pre-alert status. On 18 March, at 10:00 AM, the Civi
Country: Australia Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Tropical cyclone NARELLE made landfall over the coastal area of the Archer River town (eastern Cape York peninsula, far northern Queensland) on 19 March late evening (UTC), with maximum sustained winds up to 222 km/h (equivalent to a cat. 4 hurricane in the Saffir-Simpson scale). On 20 March at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located inland (central Cape York peninsula), wi
Country: World Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Iceland: Warning for flooding in Snæfellsnes peninsula, Eyjafjöll and Öræfajökull. Lithuania: Warning level 2/3 for Leitė near Kūlynai, Gėgė near Plaškiai, and Nemuno atšaka Atmata near Rusnė. Poland: Threshold level 2/3 for Pisa river and Swędrnia river. United Kingdom: Warning level 2/3 for 3 locations in the South of England.
Country: Tajikistan Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file.
This wildfire season has been one of the most severe in recent memory – the worst since 2006, when records began. Across Europe, flames have threatened homes, communities, and natural landscapes.
Do you know what a water spreading weir is? Many people don’t, but for host communities and Sudanese refugees in Chad, this is a lifeline.
Country: World Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Please refer to the attached Map.
Mercy Corps’ new name, Prosper Global, reflects “clearer” vision. Plus, why did memorandums appear and then disappear from the State Department site?
Maria Antonieta Alcalde Castro is convinced the backlash against sexual and reproductive health and rights today is a response to the wins the movement has made over the years, such as in the decriminalization of abortion in many countries.
International Planned Parenthood Federation’s new chief is continuing her fight for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Plus, the history of the UNFPA-UN Women merger debate.
Country: South Sudan Source: International Organization for Migration Without drainage and dyke maintenance, Bentiu displacement camp faces high flood risk this rainy season, threatening thousands with further displacement. Photo: IOM/Muse Mohammed Geneva/Juba, 19 March 2026 – Life-saving services for nearly 187,000 displaced people in South Sudan could collapse within weeks due to a USD 6 million funding shortfall, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned today. “Essential serv
Opinion: African NGOs have grassroots data, community trust, and last-mile reach that companies need for ESG goals. It’s time to monetize that expertise through fee-based services and strategic partnerships.
It was the second blow for the United States, which twice attempted to bring America’s culture wars on gender to the global stage.
In a statement, Yvette Cooper, U.K. secretary of state, said the U.K. is increasing its ODA spending to multilateral organizations, but it will be “targeted strategically towards the most effective multilateral organisations.”
In the latest episode of our weekly podcast, we look at Latin America’s green energy and private investment for growth, and economic aftershocks and humanitarian crises in Africa linked to global conflict.
The plan marks a “fundamental” shift for the United Kingdom from donor to investor.
The United Kingdom has outlined its development priorities as it manages a reduced aid budget. Plus, the U.N.’s Commission on the Status of Women rejects America’s culture wars on gender.
Devex examines the locations, sectors, and roles with the highest hiring activity last year and their pay trends.
Humanitarian aid
Good News
Artist of the month
Women’s rights
Cuts to international aid funding have plunged Kakuma, one of the world’s largest refugee camps in Kenya, into a worsening humanitarian crisis. With food rations reduced to a fraction of the minimum requirement, residents face an impossible choice.
Cuts to international aid funding have plunged Kakuma, one of the world’s largest refugee camps in Kenya, into a worsening humanitarian crisis. With food rations reduced to a fraction of the minimum requirement, residents face an impossible choice.
“The next generation could face widespread illiteracy.”
Urban mobility
Labour rights
Restoring the planet’s environmental health is indispensable
Art with a developmental connection – compiled for you by the D+C editorial team.
Around the world, access to education must be made easier and its quality has to improve
In view of multiple crises, state agencies must stay able to invest in crucial infrastructure and services
Empowering women and girls is crucial to achieving gender justice.
Humanitarian organisations
In case you missed the previous Friday Humanitarian Scan posts here they are:
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #2
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #3
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #4
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #5
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #6
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #7
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #8
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #9
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #10
- The Friday Humanitarian Scan #11
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