Conflicts, climate emergencies, economic collapses… the outlook for 2024 is “bleak,” the United Nations warned on Monday, calling for $46.4 billion to help 180 million people around the world.
Without sufficient funding, “people would pay with their lives,” the UN warned.
Although all eyes are currently on the war in Gaza, the United Nations reminds that the Middle East, Sudan and Afghanistan have also benefited from important international aid operations.
However, the size of the annual funding appeal and the number of beneficiaries the UN is expected to help have been revised downwards compared to 2023 due to a lower number of donations.
“Humanitarian workers save lives, fight hunger, protect children, respond to epidemics and provide shelter and health facilities in the most inhumane situations,” U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement.
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“However, the necessary support from the international community does not meet the needs,” he lamented.
The UN called for raising $56.7 billion by 2023 but received only 35% of that amount, the largest funding gap in years. United Nations agencies provided assistance and protection to 128 million people.
2023 is on track to be the first year since 2010 in which humanitarian aid donations fell compared to the previous year.
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In addition, the United Nations has decided to review its fundraising appeal for 2024 to focus on more pressing needs.
Announcing the 2024 appeal, Griffiths acknowledged that the amount requested remained “enormous” and likely difficult to raise as many donor countries faced economic difficulties.
But “without sufficient funding, we will not be able to provide life-saving assistance. And if we cannot provide this help, people will pay with their lives,” he warned.
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The aim of the appeal for donations is to finance operations in 72 countries: 26 states in crisis and 46 neighboring countries that are suffering from the consequences, such as the influx of refugees.
First of all, these are Syria (4.4 billion dollars), followed by Ukraine (3.1 billion), Afghanistan (3.0 billion), Ethiopia (2.9 billion) and Yemen (2.8 billion).
According to Griffiths, there will be nearly 300 million people in need worldwide in 2024, but the United Nations will focus its efforts on 180.5 million.
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The first areas affected by the revision of financing expectations are therefore the Middle East and North Africa (13.9 billion).
However, Griffiths also drew attention to the needs of Burma and Ukraine, which are experiencing a “desperate winter” of intensifying war; and Sudan, which he believes does not get the attention it deserves in Western capitals.
As for Venezuela, the UN official said he hoped the political dialogue would release frozen assets and set a “very good example” that would lead to “social rewards.”
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He added that famine in Afghanistan could be avoided if funding takes human rights into account.
The needs related to the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly important.
“There is no doubt that climate competes with conflict as a need generator,” he said.
“The climate is now driving away more children than conflicts. It’s never been like this.”
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