Humanitarian Crises
Humanitarian Crises:
Wars, Genocides, Natural or Forced Starvation, & Displacements
Historically, armed conflicts date back to at least 2700 CE with Sumer and Elam in Mesopotamia, though experts suggest even earlier confrontations occurred over resources among prehistoric communities in today’s Middle East.
Contemporary humanitarian crises are complex and widespread, impacting populations globally through conflict, deprivation, and forced migration. In regions like Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali, people face violence, hunger, and insecurity. The Israeli Palestinian crisis is notable for its severe human impact and geopolitical significance.
Using the World Population Review” statistics from 2024, there were 16 wars, conflicts, and terrorist insurgencies taking place around the world. According to the Genocide Watch website, there were 11 “Genocide Emergencies and Warnings.” The IFPRI website’s 2025 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) reports that in 2024, 53 countries/territories were facing elevated levels of acute food insecurity. The top five heading towards the Catastrophe Phase 5 level are: Palestine (Gaza Strip), Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
According to multiple sources reporting on the Israeli Palestinian humanitarian crisis, over 60,000 people, including women and children, have been killed in Gaza, and more than 150,000 injured. Thousands have continued to die from lack of health care, doctors, aid workers, and journalists continue to lose their lives in ongoing incidents, and the UN reports that 1.9 million people remain displaced.
Question: At his moment, why is the Israeli Palestinian crisis the one we are highlighting?
Answer: Because the U.S. supplies the weapons for the current aggressor.
What does UMC say about the Israel and Palestine Crisis
“The Israeli Palestinian conflict has a long history of pain and terror perpetrated by many different actors. Since 1967, the Israeli government has been the occupying power of the Palestinian territories. Under Israel’s continued military occupation, Palestinians have undergone gross injustices and human rights violations including the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements, restrictions of water rights, home demolitions, displacement of Palestinian civilians, transfer of Israeli settlers, and use of excessive force. While there are legitimate concerns for Israel’s security, measures to promote security and peace cannot be built on the occupation of the Palestinian people.”
The United Methodist Church calls for an end to the Israeli occupation; we affirm our commitment to nonviolent responses and the inclusion of all voices harmed by the conflict – including Muslim, Christian and Jewish - in seeking a just and durable peace.”
Resources United Methodist Book of Resolutions,
6111 Opposition to Israeli Settlements on Palestinian Land
Social Principles of The United Methodist Church 2025-2028
Church & Society – www.umcjustice.org www.resourceumc.org (topics)
Food Justice: Par. 160 Stewardship of Creation, C (Page 25)
Government: Par 163 Government Responsibilities (Page21)
Church and Governments (Page46)
Government: Par 163 Basic Rights and Freedoms (Pages 50-51)
War: Par.163 Government Responsibilities, F (Page 46,49-50)
Related 2020/2024 Resolutions
2100 “The UMC Church, Food, Justice, and World Hunger
4108 “Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land”
4109 “United Nations Resolutions on the Israel-Palestine Conflict”
4163 “Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, War Crimes”
“Questions to Ponder” and Share Conversations with Others.
(These are complicated questions to a complicated issue!)
1. Will there ever be an end to wars and will the world ever live in peace? Why or why not?
If the answer is negative, what are the reasons that will continue wars vs. peace?
2. How do we learn to live with wars throughout the world? Accept them as inevitable?
Try to do what we can do to try to prevent them? Other ideas?
3 What can we do as individuals, churches, societies, and countries to promote peace?
4. How can we help with the current wars, genocides, natural famines/human-caused famines, and displacements of large groups of people which cause migrations?
Share your thoughts, concerns, or questions at jag@wrumc.org
Link to a Substack written by a Gaza Mother: “Mothers & Grandmothers Against Genocide” angiealt.substack.com OR look up Munira El Najar on Substack to go directly to her site.
Wars, Genocides, Natural or Forced Starvation, & Displacements
Historically, armed conflicts date back to at least 2700 CE with Sumer and Elam in Mesopotamia, though experts suggest even earlier confrontations occurred over resources among prehistoric communities in today’s Middle East.
Contemporary humanitarian crises are complex and widespread, impacting populations globally through conflict, deprivation, and forced migration. In regions like Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali, people face violence, hunger, and insecurity. The Israeli Palestinian crisis is notable for its severe human impact and geopolitical significance.
Using the World Population Review” statistics from 2024, there were 16 wars, conflicts, and terrorist insurgencies taking place around the world. According to the Genocide Watch website, there were 11 “Genocide Emergencies and Warnings.” The IFPRI website’s 2025 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) reports that in 2024, 53 countries/territories were facing elevated levels of acute food insecurity. The top five heading towards the Catastrophe Phase 5 level are: Palestine (Gaza Strip), Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
According to multiple sources reporting on the Israeli Palestinian humanitarian crisis, over 60,000 people, including women and children, have been killed in Gaza, and more than 150,000 injured. Thousands have continued to die from lack of health care, doctors, aid workers, and journalists continue to lose their lives in ongoing incidents, and the UN reports that 1.9 million people remain displaced.
Question: At his moment, why is the Israeli Palestinian crisis the one we are highlighting?
Answer: Because the U.S. supplies the weapons for the current aggressor.
What does UMC say about the Israel and Palestine Crisis
“The Israeli Palestinian conflict has a long history of pain and terror perpetrated by many different actors. Since 1967, the Israeli government has been the occupying power of the Palestinian territories. Under Israel’s continued military occupation, Palestinians have undergone gross injustices and human rights violations including the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements, restrictions of water rights, home demolitions, displacement of Palestinian civilians, transfer of Israeli settlers, and use of excessive force. While there are legitimate concerns for Israel’s security, measures to promote security and peace cannot be built on the occupation of the Palestinian people.”
The United Methodist Church calls for an end to the Israeli occupation; we affirm our commitment to nonviolent responses and the inclusion of all voices harmed by the conflict – including Muslim, Christian and Jewish - in seeking a just and durable peace.”
Resources United Methodist Book of Resolutions,
6111 Opposition to Israeli Settlements on Palestinian Land
- Alex Awad on the Biblical Call to Action to build peace.
- Hagai El-Ad’s Address to the UN Security Council on October 14, 2016
Social Principles of The United Methodist Church 2025-2028
Church & Society – www.umcjustice.org www.resourceumc.org (topics)
Food Justice: Par. 160 Stewardship of Creation, C (Page 25)
Government: Par 163 Government Responsibilities (Page21)
Church and Governments (Page46)
Government: Par 163 Basic Rights and Freedoms (Pages 50-51)
War: Par.163 Government Responsibilities, F (Page 46,49-50)
Related 2020/2024 Resolutions
2100 “The UMC Church, Food, Justice, and World Hunger
4108 “Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land”
4109 “United Nations Resolutions on the Israel-Palestine Conflict”
4163 “Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, War Crimes”
“Questions to Ponder” and Share Conversations with Others.
(These are complicated questions to a complicated issue!)
1. Will there ever be an end to wars and will the world ever live in peace? Why or why not?
If the answer is negative, what are the reasons that will continue wars vs. peace?
2. How do we learn to live with wars throughout the world? Accept them as inevitable?
Try to do what we can do to try to prevent them? Other ideas?
3 What can we do as individuals, churches, societies, and countries to promote peace?
4. How can we help with the current wars, genocides, natural famines/human-caused famines, and displacements of large groups of people which cause migrations?
Share your thoughts, concerns, or questions at jag@wrumc.org
Link to a Substack written by a Gaza Mother: “Mothers & Grandmothers Against Genocide” angiealt.substack.com OR look up Munira El Najar on Substack to go directly to her site.
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