UN appeals for $47 billion to aid world’s most vulnerable A call for humanity in 2025

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has launched the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) for 2025, estimating that 305 million people worldwide will require humanitarian assistance in the coming year.

The appeal seeks $47 billion to support life-saving aid efforts across 32 countries and nine refugee-hosting regions, Caliber.Az reports, citing OCHA.

“In a world on fire, the most vulnerable – children, women, people with disabilities and the poor – are paying the heaviest price,” stated Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Fletcher called for a shift in global priorities, saying, “We must reset the world’s relationship with people in the direst need. Their voices and agency must be at the heart of our response. We need a new level of global solidarity to fully fund these appeals, and bold political action to uphold international law.”

Armed conflicts, climate-induced disasters, and prolonged crises are at the core of rising humanitarian needs. Nearly 123 million people have been forcibly displaced due to increasingly severe conflicts, while climate-related disasters continue to devastate communities and disrupt food systems.

Funding Shortfalls and Consequences

The GHO outlines coordinated response plans involving over 1,500 humanitarian partners, targeting aid for 190 million people. However, persistent funding gaps pose a critical challenge. By November 2024, only 43 per cent of the $50 billion appeal for that year had been met.

The consequences of underfunding are severe. For example:

• An 80 per cent reduction in food assistance in Syria.

• Cuts to protection services in Myanmar.

• Diminished water and sanitation aid in cholera-prone Yemen.

• Escalating hunger in Chad.

Risks to Humanitarian Workers

The failure to uphold international humanitarian law has further compounded the challenges. “2024 is already the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, surpassing last year’s death toll of 280,” OCHA reported. The vast majority of casualties have been national aid workers, highlighting the dangers faced by those on the frontlines.

Hope Amid Challenges

Despite these obstacles, humanitarian agencies managed to reach nearly 116 million people in 2024, delivering food, shelter, healthcare, education, and protection services.

Fletcher underscored the importance of continued efforts, stating,

“The humanitarian community is ready to deliver – for the war-weary survivor, the displaced family, the hungry child. We must make and win afresh the argument for humanity.”

The UN’s GHO for 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global solidarity and action to alleviate the suffering of millions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev