The United Nations is urgently appealing for $46 billion in funding for the year 2024 to address the escalating humanitarian crises worldwide. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), outlined in its Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024, expressed concerns about the funding shortfall, indicating that it can only reach slightly over half of the nearly 300 million individuals requiring aid next year. The report underscores the grim humanitarian landscape in 2024, attributing the challenges to conflicts, climate emergencies, and collapsing economies that are disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations globally.
As the number and severity of crises continue to rise, OCHA emphasizes that the humanitarian aid system is grappling with a significant funding crisis. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths,
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
in a statement, highlighted the critical situation, revealing that in 2023, the international community only contributed slightly more than one-third of the required $57 billion. Despite facing the worst funding shortfall in years, the humanitarian community managed to deliver life-saving assistance and protection to 128 million people.
Looking ahead, Griffiths pointed out specific regions of acute need, identifying the Middle East, particularly Gaza and the West Bank, as areas requiring substantial attention. Additionally, he underscored the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, emphasizing the urgent support needed in the face of an impending resumption of full-scale conflict in the coming year. The humanitarian challenges extend to East and Southern Africa, affecting 74 million people, with the crisis in Sudan amplifying the region’s plight.
Source: aljazeera.