Humanitarian crises are becoming more frequent and are lasting longer, according to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released in December. As a result, more than 1 percent of the worldwide population are caught up in major crises, write the authors of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2019. Between 2005 and 2017, according to OCHA, the number of crises receiving an internationally led response almost doubled, from 16 to 30, and the average length of humanitarian response plans increased from 5.2 years in 2014 to 9.3 years in 2018.

Ten percent of the world’s people are still living in extreme poverty, and this year nearly 132 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection, mostly because of the effects of armed conflict. The United Nations and partner organizations aim to assist nearly 94 million of them in 2019.

The international humanitarian system is more effective than ever at meeting their needs, but global trends including continued population growth and climate change are leaving more people than ever vulnerable to the devastating impacts of conflicts and natural disasters. Listed below are some of the challenges highlighted by OCHA.

This article appears in January 7 2019.