Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
December 8, 2025 Humanitarian aid
To support 135 million people in 50 countries next year, humanitarian organizations will need $33 billion. The UN and its partners have launched a priority appeal for $23 billion to provide emergency assistance to 87 million people affected by wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics, and famine.
The funds form part of the Global Humanitarian Plan 2026, released on Monday.
"This appeal sets out where our collective energy should be focused first," said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, presenting the document.
Millions of people need support
The updated plan comes amid dramatic cuts to humanitarian programs this year and a record number ofdeadly attacks on humanitarian workers.
The document includes detailed plans for 29 crisis zones. The largest of these concerns the occupied Palestinian territory, where $4.1 billion is needed to help three million people.
Sudan needs $2.9 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 20 million people caught in the middle of the world's largest displacement crisis. An additional $2 billion is needed to support the seven million Sudanese who have fled the country.
The largest regional request concerns the situation around Syria – $2.8 billion to help 8.6 million people.
To help 4.1 million people in Ukraine in 2026, humanitarian agencies are requesting $2.3 billion.
Consequences of funding cuts
Tom Fletcher recalled that only $12 billion was allocated for the 2025 humanitarian plan—the lowest figure in a decade. As a result, 25 million fewer people received aid than the previous year.
The consequences were tangible: people did not have enough food, health systems could not cope with the load, “and full-scale famine"hit a number of areas in Sudan and Gaza," Fletcher said.
"Programs to protect women and girls have been cut, hundreds of humanitarian organizations have closed. And more than 380 humanitarian workers have been killed – a record number," the UN deputy chief added.
Humanitarian workers are under constant threat
The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator also stressed that humanitarian workers are currently working “at the limit of their capabilities, chronic underfunding and under constant attack." According to him, only 20 percent of requests from the humanitarian community receive funding.
"We're sending ambulances to the fire on your behalf," Fletcher said. "But now we're being asked to put out the fire as well. And there's not enough water in the tank. And they're shooting at us."
Appeal to Member States
Over the next 87 days, humanitarian organizations will seek support from UN member states – “one day for every million lives we strive to save,” explained the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
He also stressed the need to strengthen the protection of humanitarian workers – “not just by voicing concerns, but by holding accountable those who kill us – and who arm those who kill us.”
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