The United Nations has announced a drastic reduction in its global humanitarian aid operations, attributing the cuts to unprecedented funding shortfalls that have forced it to sharply scale back its relief efforts worldwide.
In a statement released Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that its 2025 aid appeal has been slashed to $29 billion—a steep decline from the $44 billion initially requested last December.
The agency said it will now implement a “hyper-prioritised” strategy, focusing aid exclusively on the most critical emergencies.
This cutback comes amid a significant drop in donor contributions, notably from the United States, which has dramatically reduced its foreign aid budget under the Trump administration. Other major donors have also tightened their belts in response to ongoing global economic uncertainties. To date, the UN has received only $5.6 billion this year, representing a mere 13 percent of the funding it sought.
The funding crisis arrives at a time when humanitarian needs are escalating sharply across multiple conflict zones, including Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar, leaving millions vulnerable.
“Brutal funding cuts force brutal choices,” said Tom Fletcher, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “We ask for just 1 percent of what was spent on war last year. This is not merely a call for money—it is a plea for global responsibility, human solidarity, and a commitment to ending suffering.”
OCHA stated that the remaining funds will be concentrated on urgent crises, guided by planning already underway for 2025, to maximize impact despite limited resources.
“We have been pushed into a triage of human survival,” Fletcher added. “The arithmetic is cruel, and the consequences heartbreaking. Many will go without help, but we will do everything possible to save lives with the resources available.”
Highlighting the broader consequences, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned at the Human Rights Council in Geneva that funding cuts threaten not only humanitarian aid but also critical early warning systems for human rights abuses and protections for vulnerable populations.
“These budget cuts embolden dictators and authoritarians by weakening the global human rights infrastructure,” Turk told delegates. “The cost of inaction is measured in human suffering.”
