The United Nations estimates that one in every 23 people in the world currently require humanitarian aid. The number of people in need of assistance and protection has increased dramatically from 274 million at the start of 2022 to 339 million in 2023. In Africa's Sahel region, over 34 million need relief. Armed conflict, poverty, climate change, food insecurity and political instability are leading to unprecedented humanitarian needs, according to the World Health Organization. For an analysis into the humanitarian response to these crises, VOA’s Linord Moudou spoke to Mabingué Ngom, the former director of the United Nations Population Fund.