Statistics on Humanitarian Relief
Given the fragmented nature of the humanitarian sector, it’s difficult to estimate the total number of people receiving humanitarian assistance, much less the total number in need. However, proxy statistics can give a sense of scope.
Below are statistics about the number of beneficiaries, number of humanitarian organizations and aid workers, total amount of humanitarian funding, the main recipients of humanitarian funding, attacks on aid workers, and staff-wellness.
16 Million Refugees, 51 Million Internally Displaced, 90 Million Hungry:
According to the UN, there are currently 16 million refugees worldwide, in addition to 51 million people displaced within their own countries – 26 million displaced by armed conflict, and 25 million by natural disasters.
The World Food Program estimates that 90 million people require food aid, 54 million of whom live in Africa.
34 Armed Conflicts and 414 Natural Disasters:
As of 2007, there were 34 armed conflicts worldwide. That same year, a total of 414 natural disasters affected 211 million people. Overall, these natural disasters resulted in 16,847 deaths, and caused $74.9 billion in damages.
There are currently humanitarian relief operations in response to almost every major conflict and natural disaster across the world. For instance, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – which takes the lead in coordinating the humanitarian response to emergencies – has a presence in 43 countries, supporting 22 major humanitarian operations.
4.5 Million People:
The largest current humanitarian effort is in Darfur, where 85 NGOs and Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement agencies and 16 UN agencies (totaling 16,366 aid workers. 94% of whom are Sudanese nationals) work to provide assistance to 4.7 million conflict-affected people.
[Statistics updated as of November 4th, 2008]
58 Humanitarian Operations, 214,654 Aid Workers (broadly construed):
There are ongoing humanitarian operations in approximately 58 countries, 40 of which are in Africa. (Statistics derived from ReliefWeb list of countries and emergencies.) One study estimated that there were a total of 214,654 aid workers as of 2005. The vast majority of these are national staff.
There are a number of other UN agencies active in humanitarian work, including UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Food Program, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Estimates for the number of international non-governmental agencies (INGOs) vary widely, from 5,500 to 37,000.
$9 Billion:
The total amount spent on humanitarian assistance by the twenty-two major donors that comprise the OECD Development Assistance Committee was approximately $9 billion in 2006.
9% of Development Funding Goes to Humanitarian Programs:
This $9 billion represents slightly less than 9% of the $102 billion in total Overseas Development Assistance spent by the OECD DAC donors that year.
The largest humanitarian donors in absolute terms in 2006 were the US ($3 billion), the EC ($1.2 billion), the UK ($1.1 billion), Germany ($594 million) and the Netherlands ($537 million).
Percentage-wise, Luxembourg allocated 15% of its total ODA to humanitarian assistance. Finland, Norway and the US each allocated 13%, while Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland allocated 12%. At the other end of the spectrum, France and Japan each allocated only around 2% of total ODA for humanitarian funding.
For a detailed analysis of humanitarian spending, see here.
Main Recipients of Humanitarian Funding
Overall, Sudan received 18% of all humanitarian funding ($1.2 billion) in 2007-2008, making it the largest recipient of humanitarian assistance. The West Bank and Gaza / Occupied Palestinian Territory received 10% ($701 million), followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo ($374 million), Pakistan ($370 million), Indonesia ($367 million), Lebanon ($346 million) and Ethiopia ($314 million).
434 Aid Workers Killed Between 1997 and 2005:
There was a 92% increase in the number of violent attacks against aid workers from 1997 to 2005. A total of 947 aid workers were victims of these attacks, including 434 who were killed. The vast majority of victims (78%) were national staff. The most deadly year on record was 2003, with 86 aid worker fatalities. (A year-by-year comparison of attacks against aid workers is available here.)
122 Aid Workers Killed in 2008:
A report by the Center for International Cooperation and the Overseas Development Institute tallies a total of 122 aid worker fatalities in 2008, including 45 in Somalia, 33 in Afghanistan and 19 in Sudan.
(I've tracked slightly different numbers of Somalia, with 36 aid worker fatalities. These statistics were taken from the Somalia NGO Safety and Preparedness Program report no. 52/08, current through December 23rd. Another aid worker was then killed in Somalia on December 13th. The Afghanistan NGO Security Office also reports a somewhat lower figure for Afghanistan, with 31 aid workers killed in 2008.)
98 Aid Workers Killed So Far in 2009
- Eighteen aid workers have been killed in Afghanistan - fifteen as reported by the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office report covering the period of July 16th - 30th, 2009, and then two UN staff killed on August 18th, and an aid worker with the ICRC on August 25th.
-Eighteen aid workers have been killed in Pakistan, including two in February, five in April (stories here and here), five in June, one in July and five in October.
- Ten aid workers (including UN contractors) have been killed in Gaza since December 27th, as have thirteen medical personnel. The aid worker fatalities include five UNRWA staff, three UNRWA contractors, one WFP contractor and one aid worker with CARE.
- Ten aid workers have been killed in Somalia, including two in January, two in April, one in July and five in August. (In addition, a former WFP contractor was also killed in March, and a former CARE staff member was killed in April.)
- As many as nine aid workers (including family members) were killed in Yemen in June. (Still difficult to get accurate figures.)
- At least seven aid workers have been killed in Sri Lanka, including two in February, two in March, one in April and two in May. The actual number is probably higher.
- Four aid workers have been killed in the Central African Republic, one in June and three in September.
- Three aid workers have been killed in Mozambique
- Two aid workers have been killed in Chechnya
- One aid worker has been killed in Bangladesh
- One aid worker has been killed in Benin
- One aid worker has been killed in DR Congo
- One aid worker has been killed in Honduras
- One aid worker has been killed in Iraq (at least)
- One aid worker has been killed in Mauritania
- One aid worker has been killed in Zanzibar
Updated as of October 6th, 2009. This is by no means a comprehensive list.
40% of Aid Workers at High Risk of Burn-Out
According to statistics gathered for an InterAction Forum on staff wellness in 2005, between 5-10% of aid workers in dangerous situations suffer diagnosable PTSD, while another 20% suffer partial PTSD. In addition, 10-15% show symptoms of elevated levels of depression, 10-17% show symptoms of elevated anxiety, and 30-50% feel moderate to severe levels of emotional distress. Overall, 40% are at a high risk of burn-out. (All statistics available here.)
This, in turn, helps contribute to increasing levels of staff turn-over.
[Photo of refugee camp in Somalia from MSF]
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