The United Nations has launched a $47.4 billion aid appeal for 2025, highlighting the immense humanitarian toll of surging conflicts and climate-related disasters. With 305 million people projected to require urgent assistance globally, the UN’s new humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, warned of an unfolding “perfect storm” of crises.
“We are dealing with a poly-crisis right now globally, and it is the most vulnerable people in the world who are paying the price,” Fletcher said, citing wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, alongside devastating climate impacts, as primary drivers of skyrocketing humanitarian needs.
The appeal aims to support 189.5 million of the most vulnerable people, though funding shortfalls mean over 115 million will go without aid.
Despite a $50-billion appeal for 2024, only 43% of funds were met by November. Underfunding has already led to critical reductions in food aid for Syria, protection services in Myanmar, and sanitation programmes in Yemen.
To address donor fatigue, Fletcher vowed to focus on the most dire needs and push for increased support.
Wars and disregard for international law have made 2024 the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, with over 280 killed. Fletcher condemned the ferocity and intensity of conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, calling the suffering unconscionable for being man-made.
Compounding the challenge is the convergence of conflicts and climate crises. Record displacement—123 million people globally—alongside rising food insecurity, collapsing healthcare systems, and increasing famine risk underscore the urgency of the UN’s call for action.
As fears of reduced global aid grow with potential political shifts in donor nations like the US, Fletcher pledged to “bash down doors” to secure funding and deliver lifesaving support to the world’s most vulnerable.
