New York – The United Nations has announced significant reductions to its global humanitarian aid program this year due to unprecedented financial cutbacks affecting the sector.
“We have been forced into a triage of human survival,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, Tom Fletcher.
In a statement OCHA said it was presenting “the global ‘hyper-prioritized’ appeal aiming to help 114 million people facing life-threatening needs across the world.”
Despite six months passing since the initial funding request, the UN has only managed to secure $5.6 billion, which represents 13% of the total required amount. This shortfall comes amid escalating humanitarian crises, particularly in Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned: “We have been forced to make life-or-death decisions. The numbers are dire, and the consequences are painful. Many will not receive the aid they need, but we will save as many lives as possible with the resources available”.
Reem Abdulhameed /Manar Salameh
