U.N. seeks $46 billion for humanitarian crises in 2024 amid funding shortfall

The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for $46 billion in funding for the year 2024. This significant financial request is aimed at addressing the critical humanitarian needs of nearly 300 million people worldwide, who are grappling with the repercussions of conflicts, climate-related emergencies, and economic challenges. The request was formalized in the U.N.’s Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024, presented by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

OCHA’s report highlights a dire need for humanitarian assistance, with an estimated 300 million individuals globally requiring aid. Martin Griffiths, the U.N.’s aid chief, emphasized the targeted assistance for 181 million of these individuals, representing the specific focus of the agencies he represents. Griffiths also acknowledged the separate funding appeals made by other organizations, such as the Red Cross and national Red Cross societies.

However, he underscored a significant challenge: the humanitarian system is currently experiencing a severe funding crisis. In the previous year, only a little over one-third of the required $57 billion for aid was secured. This shortfall, described by Griffiths as the “worst in years,” has made it difficult to reduce the appeal for 2024 while still ensuring that aid agencies remain “realistic, focused, and tough-minded” in their approach to assessing needs.