Ethiopia Ranks Fourth on Global Crisis Watchlist: IRC Report

Ethiopia has been ranked fourth among the nations most at risk of a worsening humanitarian crisis on the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) 2026 Emergency Watchlist. According to the report by Mintesinot Nigussie, the organization warned that renewed conflict in the country is increasingly threatening progress against extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The IRC highlighted that escalated tensions and ongoing instability could reverse hard-won development gains achieved in recent years. Ethiopia is placed directly behind Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territory on this critical risk list. The ranking underlines the severe impact of local conflict on civilian populations and basic service access. Humanitarian actors warn that without significant interventions, millions of people in Ethiopia could face heightened food insecurity and displacement.