On December 4, 2024, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched an appeal for over $47 billion to address humanitarian needs worldwide. This amount is deemed insufficient to provide necessary assistance to hundreds of millions of people in a world described as 'on fire' due to a combination of conflict, climate crisis, and inequality.
Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted the dire situation in the report titled 'Overview of Humanitarian Action 2025.' He noted that ongoing conflicts, particularly in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, alongside the escalating costs of climate change, have resulted in a projected 305 million people requiring humanitarian aid next year.
As of November 2024, the UN received only 43% of the nearly $50 billion requested for 2024. Last year, the organization provided aid to 116 million people globally, but the current funding crisis means that many will not receive the support they need. Fletcher emphasized the urgency of focusing resources on those most in need.
In light of dwindling funds, humanitarian assistance has been significantly reduced in critical areas, such as an 80% cut in food aid in Syria and scaled-back water and sanitation support in Yemen, where cholera outbreaks loom. Fletcher called for a new level of global solidarity to fully fund humanitarian appeals, addressing donor fatigue.
The announcement comes amid concerns regarding potential funding cuts from the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Fletcher plans to engage with the new administration to advocate for continued support for international organizations.
UN officials characterized 2024 as one of the most brutal years in recent history for civilians caught in conflict, warning that 2025 could be worse without urgent action. By mid-2024, over 123 million people were forcibly displaced due to violence, marking a continued rise for the twelfth consecutive year. Climate-related disasters have also contributed to large-scale displacements.
Furthermore, 2024 has been noted as the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, surpassing the previous year's toll of 280 fatalities. Fletcher pointed out that the persistence of conflicts, often lasting over a decade, exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, leading to deteriorating health and education outcomes and increasing mortality rates.