Between November 2022 and the end of June 2023, crisis-affected populations in more than 37 countries were experiencing high to extreme access constraints, making it challenging for them to meet their basic needs.
What is the humanitarian access situation across the globe?
Disclaimer: narratives are provided for countries that score 3 to 5 in the ACAPS Humanitarian access index.
Nigeria
Syria
Sudan
Ukraine
These four countries saw a score increase to 5, recording Extreme access constraints in the period November 2022 – June 2023. The deterioration of the humanitarian access situation was a consequence of the developments and aggravating humanitarian conditions in the countries.
Humanitarian access in Syria has deteriorated to extreme access constraints during the reporting period as a result of the major earthquakes that hit Syria and Türkiye on 6 and 20 February 2023.
Over the past six months, the humanitarian access situation has also deteriorated in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Peru and Türkiye, amongst others
HOW ARE THE ACCESS LEVELS BEING CALCULATED?
Our methodology groups 9 indicators under 3 pillars: each indicator is given a score from 0–3 and X when there is an information gap. The model then combines the indicators in pillars, where they get a final score on a scale of 0–5.
PILLAR 1
Access of people in need to humanitarian aid
indicators under PILLAR 1
1: Denial of existence of humanitarian needs or entitlements to assistance
2: Restriction and obstruction of access to services and assistance
+3 Ukraine
The humanitarian access situation in Ukraine has deteriorated under Pillar 1 mainly due to the situation in areas under Russian control. Russian forces have taken over civilian facilities for their own use, cutting off people from essential services. Pension payments, social assistance, or medical assistance in these areas is only available to people holding Russian passports.
+4 Peru
The humanitarian access situation in Peru has deteriorated mainly because of the political and social developments affecting the living conditions of and access to services for the Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the country. Border-crossing to and from Peru became increasingly challenging for migrants and refugees because of borders’ militarilisation and insecurity.
-2 Colombia
Colombia has seen an improvement of the humanitarian access situation under Pillar 1 as Gustavo Petro’s Government has established programmes to assist people in need and strengthened policies to guarantee the welfare of the Venezuelan population residing in Colombia.
“In Afghanistan, the ITA decrees of 24 December 2022 and 4 April 2023 banned Afghan women from working in NGOs and UN agencies, respectively, limiting women and girls’ access to jobs, services, and assistance and reducing humanitarian operations”.
Pillar 2
Access of humanitarian responders to people in need
indicators under PILLAR 2
3: Impediments to enter the country
4: Restriction of movement within the country
5: Interference into implementation of humanitarian activities
6: Violence against humanitarian personnel, facilities, and assets
+3 Sudan
Humanitarian access in Sudan has deteriorated since the start of the conflict between the SAF and the RSF on 15 April 2023. Insecurity has resulted in the relocation of humanitarians to Port Sudan. In Darfur, the access of humanitarians to the affected population has significantly decreased after targeted attacks on humanitarian staff, facilities and assets.
+2 Haiti
The score under Pillar 2 increased for Haiti as the expansion of gangs’ control over the country. Armed groups impose checkpoints in Port-au-Prince and demand payment from users travelling by car or motorbike, affecting the delivery of aid. Checkpoints are present also at seaports and oil terminals, increasing the cost of humanitarian operations.
-1 Chad
The score of Pillar 2 for Chad has decreased as intercommunal violence and armed groups activity did not affect humanitarian access as during the previous reporting period. In addition, no attacks against humanitarians were recorded in this reporting period, although an overall lack of information on the humanitarian access situation has to be noted.
“In Myanmar, the denial of and delays in travel authorisations, visa delays for humanitarians, banking restrictions, and a lack of issuance of tax exemption certificates, constrain the import of nutrition and medical supplies, affecting the humanitarian response”.
Pillar 3
Physical, environmental and security constraints
Indicators UNDER PILLAR 3:
7: Insecurity or hostilities affecting humanitarian assistance
8: Presence of landmines, improvised explosive devices, explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance
9: Physical constraints in the environment
+2 Azerbaijan
The increase in the score of Pillar 3 Nagorno-Karabakh is mainly due to the disruptions to the gas supply, electricity, and internet connectivity by the Azerbaijani authorities reported in the first half of 2023. The disruptions cut out the population in Nagorno-Karabakh from essential services and resources.
-2 Dominican Republic
Although heavy rains have been recorded in the last six months in Domicican Republic (May-November rainy season), they did not have any major impact on humanitarian access as compared to June-December 2022, when Hurricane Fiona caused disruptions of critical infrastruture and generated logistical constraints for accessing services and aid.
-1 Libya
Humanitarian access across Libya has slightly improved since November 2022, mainly because of a decrease in armed conflict. During the reporting period, there were no major clashes between armed groups that affected people’s movement towards services or humanitarian operations.
“Two major earthquakes hit southeastern Türkiye on 6 and 20 February 2023. The quakes damaged buildings, roads, airports, and seaports, restricting the movement of goods and people and limiting the ability of humanitarians to deliver aid to affected people”.
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Humanitarian access
05 July 2023
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DOCUMENT / PDF / 3 MB
ACAPS Humanitarian Access Overview provides a snapshot of the most challenging contexts to operate. Between November 2022 and the end of June 2023, crisis-affected populations in more than 37 countries were experiencing high to extreme access constraints, making it challenging for them to meet their basic needs.
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ACAPS’ Humanitarian Access Overview provides a snapshot of the most challenging contexts for humanitarian access globally. In the first half of 2022, the indicators ‘environmental constraints’, ‘restriction and obstruction to services and assistance’, and ‘restriction of movements within the country’ were the most common challenges throughout all crises and scored highest among the considered indicators.
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Humanitarian Access Overview
DOCUMENT / PDF / 3 MB
ACAPS' Humanitarian Access Overview provides a snapshot of the most challenging contexts to operate. Crisis-affected populations in more than 70 countries are not receiving the humanitarian assistance they need because of access constraints. No new countries have entered the ranking since the last release in July 2021.
19 July 2021
Humanitarian Access Overview
DOCUMENT / PDF / 4 MB
ACAPS Humanitarian Access Overview provides a snapshot of the most challenging contexts for humanitarian access. Crisis-affected populations in more than 60 countries are not receiving the humanitarian assistance they need because of access constraints. Seven new countries – Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Spain, and Timor-Leste – have entered the ranking since the last release in December 2020.