The United Nations announced Monday that it will significantly reduce its global humanitarian aid program this year due to "the worst financial cuts ever to hit the humanitarian sector."
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) explained that the new 2025 plan, which costs $29 billion, up from the $44 billion initially announced when it was launched in December, places "high priority" on supporting 114 million people.
The entire global humanitarian sector has been thrown into turmoil by US President Donald Trump's decision to halt or reduce US foreign aid programs.
The United States was the largest donor of all forms of development aid, and the significant funding cuts have had dire consequences for emergency assistance, immunizations, and the distribution of HIV/AIDS drugs.
Officials, including World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, have condemned the decision, which could cost the lives of millions of people.
However, the United States is not alone. Many donor countries have reduced their aid to focus on other priorities, sometimes amid difficult economic conditions.
According to OCHA, the United Nations has only been able to raise $5.6 billion of the $44 billion initially requested, representing 13% of the total amount. This is despite the passage of six months of the year and amid increasing humanitarian crises, particularly in Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar.
"We have been forced to triage people for survival," said UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher, warning that "the numbers are dire and the consequences are painful. Many will not receive the assistance they need, but we will save as many lives as possible with the resources available to us."
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