The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday it was shortening its annual aid appeal, which sought $23 billion (€19.7 billion) for 2026.
This appeal comes after steps taken by the aid and development sector Big shock due to huge cut in funds by AmericaWhile aid workers have come Attacks are increasing rapidly in conflicts,
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said this figure is needed to save 87 million lives told reporters,
“We take the ambulance to the fire on your behalf. But now we too are being asked to put out the fire. And there is not enough water in the tank. And we are being fired upon.”
Why did the UN cut its aid appeal?
A year ago, the U.N. asked for $47 billion but got only $12 billion, “the lowest in a decade,” Fletcher said.
Now, the U.N. aims to follow a plan that “sets out where we need to focus our collective energy first. So, it’s based on agonizing life-and-death choices,” Fletcher said.
The UN ultimately hopes to raise $33 billion to help 135 million people in 2026, but knows that could soon fall as countries move to cut development aid. to increase defense budget,
Fletcher said extremist politicians are also misleading people into thinking what their taxes are to a great extent Funding assistance, claims far from reality.
He said, “I know there are budget crunches right now, families everywhere are under stress, but the world spent $2.7 trillion on defense last year, on guns and weapons. I’m asking for just over 1% of that.”
Where does the money go?
The new appeal is “laser-focused on saving lives where shocks hit hardest: wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, pandemics, crop failures,” Fletcher said.
OCHA identifies top three areas where aid is delivered is extremely necessary In 2026:
Ukraine, Haiti and Myanmar also topped the list.
Edited by: Louis Olofse