2025 Humanitarian Appeal: UN seeks to support 190 million people in a “world on fire”

And in a report “Humanitarian Overview 2025” Released today, Wednesday, OCHA estimated that 305 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance next year, and said that the required funding will help the United Nations and its partners support people in 33 countries and nine regions hosting refugees.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher emphasized that the most vulnerable groups – including children, women, people with disabilities and the poor – pay the highest price. “In a world on fire.”

He added: “We must reset the world’s relationship with the people most in need. Their voices must be at the heart of our response. We need a new level of global solidarity to fully fund these appeals, and bold political action to uphold international law. The humanitarian community is ready to fulfill its commitments – for the sake of survivors.” “The war-weary, the displaced family, the starving child, we must remake the case for humanity and win it again.”

“Shame, fear and hope”

Mr Fletcher said he felt “Shame and Fear and Hope” By launching the “Overview” report for the first time since taking office on November 18, 2024. He explained that he feels ashamed because every number in the report “Represents a broken life” Because of conflicts and the climate crisis “And the disintegration of our systems of international solidarity.” He said 2024 was a disastrous year for humanitarian workers and the people they serve, and he feared 2025 could be a disastrous year for humanitarian workers and the people they serve. “No less challenging.”

However, he stressed that despite the many challenges, humanitarian aid reached approximately 116 million people in 2024, adding that the “Humanitarian Overview 2025” report identified “A clear path to build on this momentum next year.”

The two main drivers of needs

The report noted that there are two main drivers of these massive needs – both of which are human-made and therefore reversible through concerted and collective action: Conflicts and the global climate emergency.

The report indicated that the year 2024 was “One of the most brutal years in modern history” For civilians caught up in conflicts, if urgent action is not taken, 2025 could be worse. By mid-2024, nearly 123 million people were forcibly displaced by conflict and violence, representing an increase for the twelfth consecutive year. He added that civilians bear the brunt “Record number of armed conflicts” It is characterized by a blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, including mass atrocities.

At the same time, the world is dangerously close to warming 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, and the climate crisis is increasing the frequency and severity of disasters, with devastating consequences for the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.

In the absence of any meaningful measures to end and prevent conflicts and halt global warming, the report stressed that people will face increasingly prolonged crises. He noted that the average duration of humanitarian plans and appeals is now 10 years, and plans and appeals in the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia and Sudan, respectively, have continued for more than 20 years. The report stressed that the longer the duration of humanitarian crises, the bleaker the outlook for the affected people.

The way forward

The 2025 World Humanitarian Report carefully prioritized response plans, bringing together more than 1,500 humanitarian partners to provide critical assistance to 190 million people. Despite long-term donor generosity, funding shortcomings persist. By last month, only 43 percent of the $50 billion 2024 humanitarian appeal had been met.

The report highlighted the stark consequences of the lack of funding, as food aid in Syria decreased by 80 percent, protection services decreased in Myanmar, aid allocated to water and hygiene declined in Yemen, which is exposed to cholera, while the rate of hunger worsened in Chad.

However, the greatest obstacle to helping and protecting people in armed conflicts is the widespread violation of international humanitarian law, and 2024 was the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, as the death toll among them has already exceeded last year’s toll, which amounted to 280 dead.

OCHA said that the “Humanitarian Overview 2025” report reflects the extensive work being done by humanitarian partners to enhance cost efficiency and effectiveness and prioritize assisting and protecting the people and places most in need. “Guided by a realistic understanding of the operational capacity to provide assistance.” However, the report stressed that no amount of efficiency measures can replace the need for full and flexible funding of humanitarian responses.