The United Nations has announced a sharply reduced humanitarian aid appeal for 2026, just $23 billion, half of last year’s request, after donor contributions fell to their lowest level in a decade. Despite global needs reaching unprecedented levels, the UN says it can now target only the 87 million people in the most extreme danger, leaving tens of millions without support. Aid chief Tom Fletcher described the system as “overstretched, underfunded, and under attack,” warning that agencies are being forced into “brutal choices” as security risks and restricted access further complicate operations.
The cuts come amid drastic reductions from major donors, including the United States and Germany, leaving this year’s funding at barely a quarter of what was required. The largest appeal remains for the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, shattered by two years of war, followed by Sudan and Syria. Humanitarian organizations say the shortfall will push crisis response “to the limit,” with fears that countries like the DRC and Myanmar will be left behind. Even the International Organization for Migration has halved its own appeal, underscoring a global aid system struggling to keep pace with displacement, conflict, and climate-driven emergencies.
Compiled From: "UN Faces 'brutal choices' as it launches 2026 aid appeal," AlJazeera, Dec. 8, 2025.