Humanitarian

The United Nations announced Monday that it is drastically reducing its 2025 global humanitarian aid appeal due to what it calls the “deepest funding cuts ever.” The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, now seeks $29 billion down from the $44 billion requested in December in a “hyper-prioritized” plan focused on the world’s most urgent crises. The sharp cuts follow a significant reduction in foreign aid from key donors, especially the United States under President Donald Trump, who has slashed international assistance since taking office in January. Economic uncertainty has also caused other donor nations to scale back their contributions. “Brutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,” said Tom Fletcher, head of OCHA. “All we ask is 1% of what you chose to spend last year on war. But this isn’t just an appeal for money, it’s a call for global responsibility and human solidarity.” Read Also: Beyond the Headlines: The Untold Truth behind Nigeria’s Herders-Farmers Clashes So far in 2025, the UN has received only $5.6 billion just 13% of its original target despite rising emergencies in Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and elsewhere. “We have been forced into a triage of human survival,” Fletcher said. “The math is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking.” Under the new guidelines, OCHA will prioritize aid to the most critical areas, ensuring limited resources are deployed swiftly and effectively to save as many lives as possible. (AFP)