The joint project between TRENDS Barometer, a initiative of the UAE-based TRENDS Research and Advisory, and the ICRC seeks to create a dedicated tool for measuring humanitarian performance and conditions specific to the Middle East and North Africa. According to the Emirates News Agency, the index represents the first such instrument developed for the region and will draw on data from ongoing crises to inform policy and operational improvements. The announcement highlights growing demand for localized metrics as traditional global frameworks struggle to capture regional nuances in conflict and disaster response.
A 2024 ICRC report on challenges to international humanitarian law detailed how contemporary armed conflicts involving new technologies, proxy forces and hybrid warfare have complicated compliance with established rules. The ICRC has also partnered with the UAE and other nations in a global initiative to strengthen political commitment to international humanitarian law ahead of a high-level meeting scheduled for 2026. This latest collaboration with TRENDS Barometer extends those efforts into quantitative assessment tools that could help track adherence and impact on the ground.
UNHCR data released in its Global Trends report for 2025 showed continued increases in forced displacement worldwide, with conflicts in the Middle East contributing significantly to the totals. The Global Humanitarian Overview for 2026 placed the number of people requiring urgent assistance and protection at just over 239 million across 50 countries, reflecting entrenched conflicts that have grown more violent and prolonged. These figures from the United Nations underscore the scale of the challenge the new regional index aims to address through targeted analysis.
TRENDS Barometer has established a track record in producing specialized trend reports on international issues, providing an analytical foundation for the humanitarian project. The partnership will incorporate input from humanitarian practitioners, government representatives and academic experts to refine the index’s methodology and indicators. Officials involved in the announcement noted that the tool would help bridge gaps between global statistics and region-specific needs.
A separate civilian protection trends report and index released by CIVIC in 2024 offered a precedent for data-driven humanitarian measurement at the global level, documenting civilian impacts from conflicts in 2023. The ICRC’s participation in the new index aligns with its broader mandate to uphold humanitarian principles in armed conflict, building on its annual reporting and field operations across the region. Further details on the index’s specific components and launch timeline are expected to emerge in coming weeks as development advances.
