The call for donations aims to finance operations in 72 countries: 26 states in crisis and 46 neighbors who are suffering the repercussions, such as the influx of refugees. Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and even Ethiopia are the main countries concerned.
Published
Update
Reading time: 1 min
:quality(50)/2023/12/11/000-was2004030333303-6576dc1bc59ad489856820.jpg)
The prospects are “dark” for 2024. The United Nations has launched an appeal for $46.4 billion to help 180.5 million people around the world. Without sufficient funding, “people will pay for it with their lives”, warned the UN on Monday, December 11. If eyes are currently focused on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the UN recalls that the Middle East, Sudan and Afghanistan have also benefited from significant international aid operations.
“Humanitarians save lives, fight hunger, protect children, fend off epidemics, and provide shelter and sanitation in the most inhumane situations”declared the head of UN humanitarian operations Martin Griffiths, in a press release. “But the necessary support from the international community does not match the needs”he lamented.
Seventy-two countries targeted by the UN
The United Nations had launched an appeal for $56.7 billion for 2023, but it received only 35%, the worst funding shortfall in years. UN agencies provided assistance and protection to 128 million people. And 2023 is on track to become the first year since 2010 that donations for humanitarian aid declined compared to the previous year.
Also, for 2024, the UN has decided to lower its appeal for donations, choosing to focus on the most urgent needs. Martin Griffiths acknowledged that the requested sum remained “massive” and would probably be difficult to gather. The call for donations aims to finance operations in 72 countries: 26 states in crisis and 46 neighbors which are suffering the repercussions, such as the influx of refugees. Syria (4.4 billion dollars), Ukraine (3.1 billion), Afghanistan (3 billion), Ethiopia (2.9 billion), and Yemen (2.8 billion) are the main countries concerned.