(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) says it has secured 8.7 billion dollars in funding and pledges for its 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview.
The office noted that more than 14 billion dollars is still required to meet urgent humanitarian needs worldwide.
Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator disclosed this on Wednesday during a news conference on the progress of the Global Humanitarian Overview hyper-prioritised plan 2026.
Fletcher said the humanitarian community unveiled a “hyper-prioritised” appeal of 23 billion dollars over two months ago to provide life-saving assistance to 87 million people facing the most severe crises globally.
According to him, the plan will be delivered by around 2000 humanitarian organisations across the global humanitarian community, with over 60 per cent being local partners and organisations.
He said the response so far had been encouraging, with several governments backing the initiative despite competing financial pressures.
“We have received extraordinary backing from a significant number of governments for this plan.
“We have also received 5 billion dollars for the plan, with additional pledges and announcements bringing the total to 8.7 billion dollars.
READ ALSO:UN Warns AI Deepfakes Drive Surge In Global Child Cyberbullying
“That is over a third of what we’re looking to get this year for this plan delivered in the first quarter,” he noted.
According to him, the initial 5 billion dollars contribution includes 810 million dollars in unrestricted funding.
This, he described as the “gold standard” of humanitarian financing because it allows UN agencies to deploy resources quickly where needs are greatest.
Fletcher expressed appreciation to key donors who have already stepped forward to support the plan.
He listed them as the United States, the European Commission, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Norway, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, and Qatar.
“Several of those partners have also stressed that in the coming weeks we’ll have further good news to share,” he added.
Despite the early progress, Fletcher warned that the funding gap remained significant and could have devastating consequences if not urgently addressed.
The humanitarian chief noted that the appeal is part of a broader effort to support vulnerable populations affected by conflicts, displacement, economic shocks and climate-related disasters.
He added that in January alone, humanitarian organisations reached over seven million people with life-saving assistance across 17 operations, including nearly two million people in Sudan, despite severe security and logistical challenges.
READ ALSO:UN Chief Urges Women Activists To Challenge Patriarchy Amid Global Rights Backlash
The UN official also disclosed that the humanitarian community had already begun expanding funding sources beyond governments.
According to him, 60 million dollars has been raised from foundations, corporations and individual donors, as part of a wider push to involve the private sector and civil society in closing the funding gap.
“Governments alone cannot carry the full financial weight of responding to this global humanitarian crisis,” Fletcher said.
He urged new partners to step forward, noting that when people understand what humanitarian funding represents and delivers, they will overwhelmingly support the action.
Fletcher added that UN-OCHA would launch a global public campaign to mobilise additional support from businesses, technology firms and the wider public.
“We’ll work with the private sector to expand digital multipurpose cash assistance, reducing costs, giving people more dignity and choice.
“And we’re calling on the tech sector to help bring innovation into the response, putting technology in the service of humanity.
“Our ask, therefore, is simple. Choose solidarity. Choose this year to save 87 million lives.
“No one can end every crisis, but together we can help end someone’s crisis one life at a time,” Fletcher said.
NAN
