New York, July 14 -- The collective impact of climate change, COVID-19 and conflict mean that well over 200 million people will likely need humanitarian assistance by 2022, the UN's deputy rights chief said on Monday.

Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the UN Human Rights Council that the situation is especially worrying for women and girls.

They face additional hardships from the pandemic - including sexual abuse - Ms. Al-Nashif warned, particularly those displaced by war.

"Experience demonstrates that insecurity and displacement fuel increases in sexual and gender-based violence, as well as other crimes and human rights violations such as child, early and forced marriages, or denial of access to sexual an...