UN Seeks $47 Billion in Aid for 2025

By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations is requesting $47 billion in aid for 2025 to support approximately 190 million people affected by conflict and starvation. Officials express concern as this year's appeal is less than half-funded, especially with potential cuts from major donors like the U.S..

New U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher characterizes the current situation as an "unprecedented level of suffering" and aims to assist people in 32 countries, including Sudan, Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.

> "The world is on fire, and this is how we put it out," said Fletcher during a press briefing in Geneva.

Fletcher, a former British diplomat, emphasized the need to reevaluate relationships with those in dire need globally. He mentioned that the appeal is the fourth largest in the history of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), but still excludes 115 million individuals who are not covered due to funding limitations.

Despite reducing its 2024 appeal from $56 billion to $46 billion, funding remains low at just 43%, one of the lowest rates ever recorded. The U.S. has contributed over $10 billion, about half of the total funds received thus far.

Aid organizations face difficult decisions, significantly reducing food assistance by 80% in Syria and cutting water services in cholera-affected Yemen.

The overall funding situation is worsened by unpaid dues to the U.N.'s core budget. While President Trump previously halted some U.N. expenditures, he maintained aid budgets, raising concerns about potential funding cuts from the new administration.

Global Sentiment Shifts Against Humanitarian Aid

"The U.S. is a tremendous question mark," warned Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, expressing fears of disappointment due to global political trends.

The Project 2025 initiative proposes cuts to what some see as "wasteful budget increases" at the USAID. Fletcher referred to the changing dynamics of international solidarity and underscored the importance of expanding the donor base.

He noted that crises now tend to last longer—an average of 10 years—with some regions entering a permanent state of crisis.

The European Commission and Germany rank as the second and third largest contributors to U.N. aid. However, there are doubts about future European funding as priorities shift towards defense.

Charlotte Slente from the Danish Refugee Council remarked, "It's a more fragile, unpredictable world than in Trump's first term, with more crises; if the U.S. cuts humanitarian funding, it will complicate meeting growing needs."