Press Release

‘In a world on fire, we must reset our relationship with people in crises’

04 December 2024

Global Humanitarian Overview 2025: United Nations and humanitarian partners launch US$47 billion appeal for 2025 to support 190 million people worldwide

Photo: © OCHA Ukraine

(Geneva, 4 December 2024) An estimated 305 million people around the world will require humanitarian assistance in the coming year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today, launching the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) for 2025.

The appeal seeks $47 billion to provide life-saving aid in 32 countries and nine refugee-hosting regions.

“In a world on fire, the most vulnerable – children, women, people with disabilities and the poor – are paying the heaviest price,” said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

“We must reset the world’s relationship with people in direst need,” Mr. Fletcher urged. “Their voices and agency 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 deliver – for the war-weary survivor, the displaced family, the hungry child. We must make and win afresh the argument for humanity.”

Armed conflicts are intensifying in frequency and brutality, forcing nearly 123 million people to flee their homes. Climate-induced disasters are ravaging communities, devastating food systems and driving mass displacement. Meanwhile, older crises remain unresolved, with the average humanitarian appeal now spanning a decade.

The GHO for 2025 outlines carefully prioritized response plans, uniting over 1,500 humanitarian partners to provide critical assistance to 190 million people. Despite donors’ longstanding generosity, funding shortfalls persist. By November 2024, only 43 per cent of the $50 billion appeal for that year had been met.

The consequences of underfunding are stark. 2024 saw an 80 per cent reduction in food assistance in Syria; cuts to protection services in Myanmar; diminished water and sanitation aid in cholera-prone Yemen; and escalating hunger in Chad.

However, the single most important barrier for assisting and protecting people in armed conflicts is widespread violation of international humanitarian law. 2024 is already the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, surpassing last year’s death toll of 280. The vast majority of casualties are national aid workers.

Yet, despite these challenges, humanitarian agencies reached nearly 116 million people in 2024, delivering vital food, shelter, healthcare, education and protection services.

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Note for editors:

Remarks on Ukraine from UN Emergency Relief Coordinator

Geneva, 4 December 2024

During the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2025, Mr. Tom Fletcher, the newly appointed Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, addressed critical humanitarian needs worldwide, including in Ukraine.

While outlining the scale of global humanitarian challenges, Fletcher identified Ukraine as one of the 14 crises requiring over $1 billion in aid in 2025. "Ukraine, DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo], Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Venezuela, and Myanmar" require support alongside other critical emergencies.

Reflecting on the disregard for international humanitarian law, Fletcher said, "It’s not just the ferocity of these conflicts—Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria—it’s about the wilful neglect of international humanitarian law." He noted the erosion of global norms and structures designed to protect civilians, saying, "That scaffolding is shaky at the moment."

Tom Fletcher pointed out operational difficulties faced by humanitarian actors, saying, "We reckon 123 million people have been displaced forcibly by conflict. And among that group, violations against children are also at record levels." Parts of Ukraine, like other conflict zones, face significant obstacles in ensuring people in need can access aid.

The ERC announced plans to visit Ukraine in early 2025 as part of his efforts to advocate for increased support and assess the situation first-hand "In the new year, I will be visiting Ukraine early on—it’s very high on the list."

As he outlined the humanitarian system’s broader goals, he stressed the importance of renewed solidarity from traditional and emerging donors: "We’ve got to show them that responding to these crises in a practical, resourced way is the most effective way to deal with these crises." 

Viktoriia

Victoria Andrievska

OCHA
Public Information Officer

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