Human Rights and Refugees
Introduction: Global Achievements Results from 2021
Humanitarians responded within an ever-changing landscape in2021 urgently delivering assistance to people caught up in crises.The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects compounded multiple challenges already facinghumanitarian workers including violent conflict rising hunger and the devastating impacts ofclimate change. Local partners stepped up to help access areas that could not be reached byinternational responders and deliver critical aid.
Forced Displacement is at Record Levels, COVID-19 Hampers Durable Solutions
The number of people forcibly displaced worldwide is higherthan ever. By the end of 2020 82.4 million people were forciblydisplaced including 48 million IDPs1 and 26.4 million refugees2because of persecution conflict violence human rights violationsor events seriously disturbing public order. More than 1 per cent ofthe world’s population is now displaced about 42 per cent of whomare children.
Private Sector Mobilizing Resources for Emergency Response
The private sector continues to prove its capacity to quickly mobilizeresources on the ground and strengthen emergency preparednessand recovery. In 2021 as the number of people affected byhumanitarian crises continued to increase the private sector hasonce again shown that it can contribute to stakeholders’ coordinatedaction within complex emergencies.
Humanitarian Action Must Adapt to Climate Change Realities
The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat in the future. Itseffects are happening now impairing human rights creating newhumanitarian needs and exacerbating and protracting those thatalready exist.
Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Overview
Latin America and the Caribbean is the world’s most economicallyunequal region and the second-most disaster-prone region. Recoveryfrom the pandemic has been challenging. Despite comprisingonly 8.4 per cent of the global population Latin America and theCaribbean has been the world’s hardest-hit region with 18.5 percent of all global COVID-19 cases and 30.3 per cent of all deaths.
Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview
Across the Asia and the Pacific region humanitarian needs andvulnerabilities are increasing. The impacts of climate changeprotracted crises and the health and economic shocks of COVID-19continue to take a heavy toll on the world’s most populated region.
Disaster Response During a Pandemic: Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Central America
In November 2020 Hurricanes Eta and Iota battered Guatemala andHonduras capping off the most active Atlantic hurricane seasonon record. The back-to-back storms compounded a challenginghumanitarian scenario in a region still reeling from the devastatingimpacts of COVID-19.
Local Actors Play a Key Role in Humanitarian Action
Local actors play a key role as first responders in a crisis and theproviders of long-term support. In 2021 work continued throughthe IASC and the Grand Bargain to deliver on commitments thatcomplement international action with ongoing nationally and locallyled responses at the country level.
At a glance
COVID-19 shows no signs of abating claiming at least 1.8 millionlives across the GHO countries fuelled by variants and a lackof vaccines. Economies and livelihoods have been devastatedincreasing humanitarian needs and fuelling conflict. Only 4 percent of the 7 billion vaccines administered have reached countrieswith an Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). In two thirds of thesecountries an additional 20 million people have been pushed intoextreme poverty.
School Closures Have Severely Disrupted Education, and Remote Learning Remains Out of Reach for Many
Significant disruptions to global education caused by COVID-19continue. At the pandemic’s peak in 2020 school closures affected1.6 billion students in 180 countries.1 This has resulted in educationlosses equivalent to about one half of a school year in emergingmarkets and developing economies and disproportionately affectschildren from poorer and less-educated families.
West and Central Africa Regional Overview
West and Central Africa face some of the world’s most complexchallenges. Acute and prolonged crises are deteriorating andneeds are growing. Millions of people are being driven to the edgeof survival due to a confluence of factors including conflict andviolence extreme poverty weak governance chronically high foodinsecurity and malnutrition and the impact of climate change.
Conflict Remains a Major Driver of Humanitarian Need
In 2020 about 60 per cent of all conflicts worldwide were foughtviolently.1 Despite repeated calls for global ceasefires due to theCOVID-19 pandemic political conflicts continue to hit civilian populationsthe hardest and further exacerbate the needs of the mostvulnerable categories of people.
Global Humanitarian Overview 2022
The Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) is the world’s most comprehensive authoritative and evidence-based assessment of humanitarian need. Through plans that prioritize those most in need it aims to fight hunger killer diseases gender-based violence and displacement. The GHO 2022 is a comprehensive assessment of global humanitarian needs and sets out how the international humanitarian community plans to respond in 2022. It is based on rigorous analysis that puts people in the centre of the planning. The GHO is also an appeal to donors to support the response to hunger disease gender-based violence and economic collapse in crises around the world.
Foreword by the Emergency Relief Coordinator
2021 was a year of challenge and achievement. At the start ofthe year the pandemic was hitting hard. Combined with ongoingconflicts and the climate crisis it has driven up humanitarian needs.
Inter-Agency Coordinated Appeals Results from 2021
The Global Humanitarian Overview 2021 presented initial fundingrequirements of US$35 billion to assist 160 million of the 235 millionpeople in need of humanitarian aid.
Regional Refugee Appeals Overview
In 2022 UNHCR and partners will continue to develop RegionalRefugee Response Plans (RRPs) which respond to refugee crisesin situations of sudden-onset emergencies and to more protractedcircumstances.
Other Appeals Overview
Under the leadership/co-leadership of humanitarian partners threeother appeals are being developed with the aim to respond to theneeds of populations at country and regional levels.
Inter-Agency Coordinated Appeals Overview for 2022
The number of people in need continues to rise at an alarming rate.In 2022 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance andprotection. The United Nations and partner organizations aim toassist 183 million people most in need across 63 countries whichwill require $41 billion.
Middle East and North Africa Regional Overview
Years of conflict continue to cause crippling humanitarian consequencesin the Middle East and North Africa region. Vulnerable people’sability to cope and meet their basic needs is hampered by theeffects of COVID-19 macroeconomic decline and the climate crisis.