The United Nations announced on Monday that it is significantly scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans due to the “deepest funding cuts ever.”
The UN’s humanitarian agency revealed in a statement that it is now seeking \$29 billion in funding, down from the \$44 billion requested in December, as part of a “hyper-prioritised” appeal.
During President Donald Trump’s administration, which began in January, the United States—the world’s largest donor—drastically reduced its foreign aid, severely impacting the global humanitarian sector.
Other donor nations have also reduced their contributions amid an uncertain economic climate.
“Brutal funding cuts force us to make brutal choices,” said Tom Fletcher, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“All we ask for is 1 percent of what was spent last year on war. But this is more than a financial plea — it is a call for global responsibility, human solidarity, and a commitment to ending suffering.”
With 2025 nearly halfway through, the UN has received only \$5.6 billion—just 13 percent of the \$44 billion originally requested—while crises escalate in Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and other regions.
“We have been forced into triaging human survival,” Fletcher added. “The reality is harsh, and the consequences are devastating. Many will not receive the help they need, but we will do everything possible to save as many lives as we can with the resources available.”
According to the new plan, OCHA will focus aid on “people and places facing the most urgent needs,” directing support based on pre-existing 2025 plans. This approach aims to ensure that limited resources are deployed where they can have the greatest and quickest impact.
